1. American Deaf History
A Brief Introduction

2. George Veditz Became Deaf at 8
Attended Maryland School for the Deaf, later Gallaudet University
Worked at Maryland and Colorado Residential Schools
President of the NAD in 1904
First to film ASL in and those films are considered a valuable part of Deaf history

3. Facts About Deafness
Approximately 250,000 – 500,000 people in the US use ASL
The first residential school was in Hartford, Conn founded in 1817
Gallaudet University was founded in 1857
American Sign Language is the third most language used in this country

4. How ASL Flourished in America
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Laurent Clerc

5. Thomas Hopkins Graduated from Yale University
Studied to become a minister
Neighbor to the Cogswells
Taught deaf neighbor words by writing in the dirt with a stick
Dr. Mason Cogswell and the community raised money to send Gallaudet to Europe
Met the Braidwood Family in England
Learned the French methods of Deaf education (methodical signs)
Methodical signs created and taught by the Abbe de l’epee

6. Laurent Clerc Deaf from an accident as a child
Name sign is from the scar on his cheek (possibly falling into the fire)
Educator of the deaf in Paris
Returned to United States with Gallaudet
Taught Gallaudet signs on the boat to America
Together with Gallaudet, established the first school for the deaf in the US

7. The Cogswells
Dr. Mason Cogswell
Alice Cogswell

8. Alice Cogswell Statue at Gallaudet University Information
Deaf at age 2 from “spotted fever”
Met Gallaudet at age 9
One of 6 deaf students to enter the American School for the Deaf in 1817
Died at age 25, 13 days after her father
Two statues represent her at Gallaudet University: One she stands alone and the other is with Gallaudet teaching her “A”

9. Martha’s Vineyard Signing community from the late 18th century to 1952
United States national average was one deaf person in 5728, while on Martha's Vineyard it was one in 155 in 1854
This community and language played a small role in modern day ASL

10. Deaf islanders migrated to the mainland after the opening of the school for the deaf in the early 19th century
The island language, French signed language, and home signs
The school community became known as the birth place of the Deaf community
The languages combinations became known as American Sign Language
Hereditary deafness diminished after the islanders moved away and married people on the mainland
In the town of Chilmark, which had the highest concentration of deaf people on the island, the average was 1 in 25

11. Gallaudet University

12. Gallaudet University’s History
Located in Washington DC
Founded in 1857
Situated on 99 acres
Original land was donated by Amos Kendall (2 acres)
1864 Congress authorized distribution of college degrees

13. Avenues Into the Deaf Community
Deaf community is not an ethnic group where it’s members are obvious
Attitudinal deafness vs audiological deafness
To be accepted by the group you must support and accept the values and goals of the community