ASL -Deaf history timeline

1. A History of the Deaf in the USA

(Copy the numbered slides for notes.)

1. A History of the Deaf in the USA

1. A History of the Deaf in the USA

2. The history of Deaf people, from ancient times to the present, reminds us of other stories of oppressed people who struggled for self-determination.

2. The history of Deaf people, from ancient times to the present, reminds us of other stories of oppressed people who struggled for self-determination.

3. About 1,000 B.C.E., the Torah of the ancient Hebrews said Deaf people must be protected, but they have no rights.

3. About 1,000 B.C.E., the Torah of the ancient Hebrews said Deaf people must be protected, but they had no rights.

5. The Ancient Greeks denied education to Deaf people.

The Greek Philosopher, Plato, about 400 B.C.E.

5. The Ancient Greeks denied education to Deaf people.

The Greek Philosopher, Plato, about 400 B.C.E.

“Deaf people cannot speak; therefore, Deaf people lack

intelligence.”

4. The Ancient Greeks denied education to Deaf people.

The Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, about 300 B.C.E.

5. The Ancient Greeks denied education to Deaf people.

The Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, about 300 B.C.E.

“Without hearing, people cannot learn.”

5. The Ancient Greeks denied education to Deaf people.

6. Early Christians equated Deafness with sin.

Saint Augustine, about 400 C.E.

6. Early Christians equated Deafness with sin.

Saint Augustine, about 400 C.E.

6. Early Christians equated Deafness with sin.

The Deaf cannot hear the words of God, so they cannot be saved.

Deafness is probably a punishment for parents who sinned.

7. About 530 C.E., Benedictine monks who took vows of silence created a kind of sign language to communicate with each other.

7. About 530 C.E., Benedictine monks who took vows of silence created a kind of sign language to communicate with each other.

8. A thousand years later, a Benedictine monk from Madrid, Spain, named Pedro Ponce de Leon applied the idea of using his religious group’s sign language to teaching Deaf students. He opened the first school for the Deaf in Europe around 1550.

9. In 1620, Juan Pablo Bonet, a priest from Spain who taught Deaf children of rich families, published the first Sign Language book. (Some think the book was probably inspired by Father Pedro Pone de Leon.)

9. In 1620, Juan Pablo Bonet, a priest from Spain who taught Deaf children of rich families, published the first Sign Language book. (Some think the book was probably inspired by Father Pedro Pone de Leon.)

10. Father Charles-Michel d’l’ Epee’ started a school for the Deaf in France in 1760. He is considered the father of Deaf education.

Two Deaf sisters taught me how to sign.

10. Father Charles-Michel d’l’ Epee’ started a school for the Deaf in France in 1760. He is considered the father of Deaf education.

This is the school I founded.

Father Charles-Michel d’l’ Epee’

Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris

This is the school I founded.

Father Charles-Michel d’l’ Epee’

The National School for Deaf Children of Paris

This is the school I founded.

Father Charles-Michel d’l’ Epee’

The National School for Deaf Children of Paris

Father Charles-Michel d’l’ Epee’

It continues to teach Deaf students today.

Father Roche-Ambrose Cucurron Sicard

11. Father Roche-Ambrose Sicard became the second principal of the National Institute in 1789.

Father Roche-Ambrose Cucurron Sicard

I trained a brilliant Deaf student to become a teacher.

I trained a brilliant Deaf student to become a teacher.

Father Roche-Ambrose Cucurron Sicard

Laurent Clerc, a French Deaf man and respectedTeacher of the Deaf

11. Laurent Clerc, a deaf man from France, moved to North America in 1817 to help start USA’s first school for the Deaf. He introduced Sign Language and French teaching methods to North America.

12. Laurent Clerc, a deaf man from France, moved to North America in 1817 to help start USA’s first school for the Deaf. He introduced Sign Language and French teaching methods to North America.

I brought French Sign Language to America. In North America, French Sign Language changed as it adapted to English.

I brought French Sign Language to America. In North America, French Sign Language changed as it adapted to English.

13. Today, American Sign Language has a great deal in common with French Sign Language. Even though Deaf people from America and Britain read and write in English, their sign languages are totally different.

13. Today, American Sign Language has a great deal in common with French Sign Language. Even though Deaf people from America and Britain read and write in English, their sign languages are totally different.

FSL Fingerspelling Alphabet

two-handed

12. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was a hearing man from America. His neighbor, Dr. Mason Cogswell, hired Gallaudet to teach his Deaf daughter. Alice. Dr. Cogswell paid Gallaudet to travel to Europe to study Deaf education.

14. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was a hearing man from America. His neighbor, Dr. Mason Cogswell, hired Gallaudet to teach his Deaf daughter, Alice. Dr. Cogswell paid Gallaudet to travel to Europe to study Deaf education.

In 1817, I met Laurent Clerc, who was teaching in Paris. I convinced him to come with me to the United States and start our country’s first school for the Deaf.

Want to come to the United States?

Sure. I will be glad to go with you and create new schools for the Deaf in The United States.

ParisHartford, CT

ParisHartford, CT

ParisHartford, CT

15. During the 52-day journey from Paris to Hartford, Connecticut, Clerc taught Sign Language to Gallaudet.

This beloved statue of Alice Cogswell and her first teacher, Thomas Gallaudet, is on the campus of Gallaudet University.

For many years, people forgot to give credit to Laurent Clerc.

Note letter ‘a.’

This beloved statue of Alice Cogswell and her first teacher, Thomas Gallaudet, is on the campus of Gallaudet University.

For many years, people forgot to give credit to Laurent Clerc.

Note letter ‘a.’

Clerc is recognized today.

Merci, Mounsier Clerc, for bringing French Sign Language to America!

The American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

16. Clerc and Gallaudet opened America’s first school for the Deaf in Connecticut in 1817. It still operates today.

The American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia.

The New York School for the Deaf

The Kentucky School for the Deaf

The Ohio School for the Deaf.

The American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.

17. Clerc and Gallaudet opened more schools all over the USA.

17. By 1850, there were fifteen schools for the Deaf in USA. Most of the teachers in Deaf schools were Deaf adults.

18. By 1850, there were fifteen schools for the Deaf in USA. Most of the teachers in Deaf schools were Deaf adults.

20. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed a law establishing the National Deaf-Mute College in Washington, D.C.

19. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed a law establishing the National Deaf Mute College in Washington, D.C. Today, that school is known as Gallaudet University.

20. Alexander Graham Bell was a speech teacher and scientist from Scotland. He moved to Boston to teach Deaf students in 1871.

Bell believed Deaf people should learn speech instead of using sign language. He used his special teaching method, ‘Visible Speech,’ to train Deaf students to speak instead of sign.

21. In 1876, Bell invented the telephone. Bell became famous and influential in North America and Europe.

22. Bell had other connections to Deaf people besides being a teacher. His mother was Deaf. He fell in love with one of his Deaf students, Mabel Hubbard. Alec Bell and Mabel Hubbard married after she graduated.

Happily married almost 50

years.

1880 was a big year in Deaf History.

24. In 1880, humanitarian Helen Keller was born in Alabama.

Her teacher, Annie Sullivan, fingerspelled ideas in Helen’s hand.

Helen used ASL fingerspelling and ‘home signs’ with her family but was not a fluent user of ASL.

23. In 1880, humanitarian Helen Keller was born in Alabama.

Her teacher, Annie Sullivan, fingerspelled ideas in Helen’s hand.

Helen used ASL fingerspelling and ‘home signs’ with her family but was not a fluent user of ASL.

By the way, Braille is not a form of ASL.

25 Also in 1880, Alexander Graham Bell attended an international conference of teachers of Deaf students in Milan, Italy. He convinced the leaders of Deaf schools all over the world that schools should promote the ‘oral method’ of education, teaching speech and lipreading, and discourage sign language.

25.Also in 1880, Alexander Graham Bell attended an international conference of teachers of Deaf students in Milan, Italy. He convinced the leaders of Deaf schools all over the world that schools should promote the ‘oral method’ of education, teaching speech and lipreading, and discourage sign language.

24. Also in 1880, Alexander Graham Bell attended an international conference of teachers of Deaf students in Milan, Italy. He convinced the leaders of Deaf schools all over the world that schools should promote the ‘oral method’ of education, teaching speech and lipreading, and discourage sign language.

“…In an English speaking country like the United States, the English language, and the English language alone, should be used as the means of communication and instruction at least in schools supported at public expense.”

In other words, Bell supported banning ASL.

23. The educators in Milan passed a resolution in 1880 stating that the oral method was the best for Deaf students and sign language should be banned in schools.

25. The educators in Milan passed a resolution in 1880 stating that the oral method was the best for Deaf students and sign language should be banned in schools.

Soon, American Sign Language became forbidden in Deaf schools.

26. In 1880, Deaf people began to fight for their language. Deaf leaders established the National Association of the Deaf to protect their rights and to preserve American Sign Language.

21. In 1883, Bell wrote a book about eugenics and deafness.

*Eugenics: the study of improving the human population by encouraging people with positive traits to have children and

discourage people with negative traits –like deafness– from becoming parents.

Memoir Upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race

21. In 1883, Bell wrote a book about eugenics and deafness.

*Eugenics: the study of improving the human population by encouraging people with positive traits to have children and

discourage people with negative traits –like deafness– from becoming parents.

*

Memoir Upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race

27. In 1883, Bell wrote a book about eugenics and deafness.

*Eugenics: the study of improving the human population by encouraging people with positive traits to have children and

discouraging people with negative traits –like deafness– from becoming parents.

*

Memoir Upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race

28. Bell’s writings made many Deaf people angry. Deaf people were against Bell’s ideas about suppressing sign language; many believed he wanted the government to pass laws that would prevent Deaf people from marrying each other.

. Thus began a great controversy:

29. Thus began a great controversy:

Oralists Manualists

v.

30. In 1895, there was a debate between the two American educators, the great inventor and scientist, Alexander Graham Bell, and Edward Miner Gallaudet.

Edward Miner Gallaudet Alexander Graham Bell

Edward Miner Gallaudet Alexander Graham BellMy son!

My father was a famous

teacher of the deaf.

My father was a famous

teacher of the deaf.

My father was a famous

teacher of the deaf.

I became a teacher of the

deaf.

I became a teacher of the

deaf.

I became a teacher of the

deaf.

I married a deaf woman.

I married a deaf woman.

I married a deaf woman.

My mother and wife were accomplishedwomen who

signed.

My mother and wife were accomplishedwomen who

signed.

My mother and wife were accomplishedwomen who

spoke.

American Sign Language is the

natural language of Deaf people.

American Sign Language is the

natural language of Deaf people.

All Deaf people can

learn how to speak.

After inventing the telephone, I became world

famous and very powerful.

Ummm…

After inventing the telephone, I became world

famous and very powerful.

A Deaf college student drew this cartoon of the Bell and Gallaudet debate.

31. Ten years after the Conference in Milan, the popularity of sign language in Deaf schools sharply declined. By 1890, 75% of signing teachers retired. Most schools for the Deaf prohibited students from signing.

31. Ten years after the Conference in Milan, the popularity of sign language in Deaf schools sharply declined. By 1890, 75% of signing teachers retired. Most schools for the Deaf prohibited students from signing.

32. Oral education predominated in most schools for the Deaf over 90 years, until the 1970s.

32. Oral education predominated in most schools for the Deaf over 90 years, until the 1970s.

32. Oral education predominated in most schools for the Deaf over 90 years, until the 1970s.

32. Oral education predominated in most schools for the Deaf over 90 years, until the 1970s.

33. In 1913, George Veditz, president of the National Association of the Deaf, began an effort to preserve ASL by recording it on film.

“They do not understand signs for they cannot sign. They proclaim that signs are worthless and of no help to the Deaf. Enemies of the sign language, they are enemies of the true welfare of the Deaf. As long as we have Deaf people on earth, we will have signs. It is my hope that we all will love and guard our beautiful sign language..."

36. Oral education worked for some Deaf people. However, many Deaf students became ‘oral failures’. For 90 years, Deaf students secretly used ASL and hid this from teachers and parents. They felt ashamed. Many Deaf adults felt angry that most of their time in school was used to learn speech.

34. Oral education worked for some Deaf people. However, many Deaf students became ‘oral failures’. For 90 years, Deaf students secretly used ASL and hid this from teachers and parents. They felt ashamed. Many Deaf adults felt angry that most of their time in school was used to learn speech.

Lots of those angry adults feel they’ve been cheated out of a good education because they were restricted to one method, oralism .

Jack Gannon, Deaf educator and writer

35. In 1964, two Deaf scientists and inventors, Robert Weitbrecht and James Marsters, adapted teletypewriters –used by news services– to enable Deaf people to use the telephone with each other.

Dr. James Marsters

Eventually, the teletypewriters –called TTYs– became a lot smaller. .

Deaf people invented texting years before cell phones were commonly used.

LOLBRBCUOICTHX

Gallaudet English professor William Stokoe, a hearing man, studied ASL with a movie camera.

Gallaudet English professor William Stokoe, a hearing man, studied ASL with a movie camera.

Many people believed ASL was pantomime, a collection of meaningless gesture, or broken English.

I proved these ideas were false!

Gallaudet English professor William Stokoe, a hearing man, studied ASL with a movie camera.

Many people believed ASL was pantomime, a collection of meaningless gesture, or broken English.

I proved these ideas were false!

33. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English.

33. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English.

33. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English.

I studied the movies of Deaf people signing. I made up a notation system to transcribe their communication.

36. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English.

I studied the movies of Deaf people signing. I made up a notation system to transcribe their communication.

5x = ‘mother’

chin

‘5’ handshape

33. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English.

My research showed that ASL follows consistent rules of grammar and word creation, so, therefore, ASL meets the definition of a ‘real’ language.

33. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English.

My research showed that ASL follows consistent rules of grammar and word creation, so, therefore, ASL meets the definition of a ‘real’ language.

36. William Stokoe used the principles of linguistics (the scientific study of language) to show that American Sign Language is a real, natural language. ASL is not bad English; it is different from English. He published the first ASL dictionary in 1965.

Welcome to the French Chef!

37. In 1971, Public TV station WGBH in Boston created the first TV shows with captions, making TV accessible to Deaf viewers.

Welcome to the French Chef!

Petrified Collection

37. In 1971, Public TV station WGBH in Boston created the first TV shows with captions, making TV accessible to Deaf viewers. By 1990, a new law called the Americans with Disabilities Act, required TV networks to produce captions for their shows and television manufacturers to include computer chips that enabled people to see captions on their tvs.

Do I get a welcome home kiss?

38. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of cochlear implants in 1984.

38. The US Food and Drug Administration approved of the use of cochlear implants in 1984.

39. In 1986, a twenty-one year old Deaf actress, Marlee Matlin, became the first Deaf person to win an Academy Award for her performance in the movie Children of a Lesser God about a Deaf woman who falls in love with a speech teacher.

37. In 1988, enraged Deaf students at Gallaudet University protested when the school’s Board of Trustees chose a hearing woman to become the school’s new president. Their ‘Deaf President Now!’ protests shut down the school. The protesters successfully influenced the shift to a Deaf university president.

40. In 1988, enraged Deaf students at Gallaudet University protested when the school’s Board of Trustees chose a hearing woman to become the school’s new president. Their ‘Deaf President Now!’ protests shut down the school. The protesters successfully influenced the shift to a Deaf university president.

Dr. I. King Jordan, a member of the University’s psychology department, became the school’s first Deaf president.

41. Heather Whitestone became the first Deaf woman crowned as Miss America in 1994.

42. In 2001, the NAD issued a recommendation that it will “work to ensure that parents of children with cochlear implants and other listening assistive technology receive exposure to Deaf Culture and Sign Language.”

42. In 2001, the NAD issued a recommendation that it will “work to ensure that parents of children with cochlear implants and other listening assistive technology receive exposure to Deaf Culture and Sign Language.”

Abc +

42. In 2001, the NAD issued a recommendation that it will “work to ensure that parents of children with cochlear implants and other listening assistive technology receive exposure to Deaf Culture and Sign Language.”

Abc +

42. In 2001, the NAD issued a recommendation that it will “work to ensure that parents of children with cochlear implants and other listening assistive technology receive exposure to Deaf Culture and Sign Language.”

Abc +

42. Video interpreting became widely-available in USA after 2002.

Nancy Rourke, Deaf artisthttp://www.nancyrourke.com/index.htm

Tom HumphriesWilliam Stokoe

Laurent Clerc Albert Newsam

Edward Miner Gallaudet

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Abbe de l’Epee’Father Pablo Bonet

George Veditz

Paddy Ladd

Jean Baptiste Massiue

Alice Tiegel Hansen

Nancy Rourke, Deaf artisthttp://www.nancyrourke.com/index.htm

Tom HumphriesWilliam Stokoe

Laurent Clerc Albert Newsam

Edward Miner Gallaudet

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

Abbe de l’Epee’Father Pablo Bonet

George Veditz

Paddy Ladd

Jean Baptiste Massiue

Alice Tiegel Hansen

Nancy Rourke, Deaf artisthttp://www.nancyrourke.com/index.htm