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Jan 1, 1520
Pedro Ponce de Leon
A Spanish monk developed one of the first manual alphabets while working with deaf students -
John Lambert
One of the first deaf islander of Martha's Vineyard was fluent is some types of sign language -
Samuel Heinicke
He established schools built around the oral method of teaching the deaf. The idea that the deaf would not communicate through signs but through the sounds of the throat. -
Roch Ambroise Cucurron Sicard
Roch was born. He was an educator of the deaf at a school established by the archbishop, Champion de Cice. In 1783, he was sent to Paris to study with de I'Epee. In 1786, he bacame the headmaster of the school for the deaf. -
Thomas Braidwood
Established Braidwood's Academy for the Deaf and Dumb, which was the first school for the deaf in Britain. -
Parisian Sign Language
Pierre Desloges, a deaf author, relates how the deaf of Paris were using sign language (PSL). Each place has their own dialect of sign language. -
Deaf-Mute School
The Nation Institution for Deaf-Mutes was established by Abbe Charles Michael de I'Epee. It was the first public school in France. De I'Epee founded dozens of schools throughout Europe. -
The Bolling Family
One of the first families to try to start a Deaf and Dumb school in the colonies. This was because deafness ran in the family. Sadly the school was short lived in shut down in 1816. -
Clerc and Gallaudet
Laurent Clerc and Thomas Gallaudet opened the Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons in Hartford. After the Civil War the schoool changed its name to the American School for the Deaf. -
Alexander Graham Bell
His mother was a successful deaf woman who did ot believe in signing. His father was a speech teacher to the deaf. So its no surprise that he promoted oralism. He did this to promote more succussful integration of the deaf into society. -
Edward Gallaudet
The son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, he helped start the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Blind in Washington, DC, which later became Gallaudet University. -
National Deaf Mute College
President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill creating NDMC. At the request of the alumni the college changed its name to Gallaudet College in honor Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. In 1986 it became Gallaudet University. -
Martha's Vineyard
The census for America indicated that the population of Martha's Vineyard had high numbers of deaf people. In some areas it was as high as one deaf for every three hearing. -
Deaf President Now
Gallaudet University was shut down by student protesters who refused to have a hearing president rather than a Deaf leader for their institution. As a result I. King Jordan became the first Deaf president of Gallaudet University. -
Americans With Disabilites Act
A law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities including deaf and hearing impaired.
