American Deaf History A Brief Introduction

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 1910 and those films are considered a valuable part of Deaf history

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

How ASL Flourished in America Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet Laurent Clerc

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

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

The Cogswells Dr. Mason Cogswell Alice Cogswell

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”

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

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

Gallaudet University

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

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