Deaf History Timeline in America

By Nan McRoberts

  • Basic Sign Language is Introduced

    Basic sign language instruction is offered to RIT faculty and staff prior to deaf freshman students arriving at RIT. The First freshman class enters NTID.

  • Free University

    Free University is established to offer courses in manual communication to RIT faculty, staff, and students. Faculty/Staff Sign Language program is established.

  • "It's a Deaf, Deaf, World"

    An experimental workshop is offered for the first time. This workshop continues to be successfully conducted for groups of professionals and community people who have indicated an interest in deaf people.

  • Basic Sign Communication

    NTID professors develop and publish the Basic Sign Communication curriculum.

  • The American Sign Language Leture Series is inaugurated.

  • RITSign Progrom Established

    It is established to provide studets with the opportunity to learn ASL from their deaf peers.

  • Provost Summer Intensive ASL and Deaf Culture Experience

    RIT establishes this for RIT faculty and staff.

  • First President of ASL Course is Named

    Dr. Albert Simone is the first RIT president to take a formal ASL course. Professor Sam Holcomb provides tutoring to prepare Dr. Simone to deliver part of his inagural address in sign language.

  • Production of American Sign Language Vocabulary Dictionary

    NTID produces the American SIgn Language Vocabulary CD-ROM disctionary.

  • NTID develops and publishes the American Sign Language Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide

  • RIT offers ASL courses to College of Liberal Arts students for modern language credit.

  • ASL and Deaf Culture are showcased at the first IMAGINE RIT festival

  • NTID faculty members develop and publish the ASL at Work Teacher's Manual and Student Text

  • The RIT ASL and Deaf Studies Community (RADSCC) is opened in Student Alumni Union