Deaf History Month: From French Roots to American Culture

September is Deaf Awareness month.

How did sign language become official?

The pioneers of the Deaf community.

The key role of France in American (Deaf) History.

From “unteachable” to understood.

What is Timeline Thinking?

A Timeline of Deaf History.

Ba-dee-ya

Since the invention of radio and mass-communication inside the home. Many-a groovy tune has been released. Those kind of songs that make you wanna get up and dance!

Earth, Wind, and Fire came out with this song sometime in the 70’s. “September” was released in 1978, to be exact. Since then, this groovy tune been played all over, everywhere, many times.

Before radios and disco balls: In 1835. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet; said “Music is the universal language of mankind“.

New Harvard study says music is universal language

In 1860, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called for unity as a Civil War was soon to break out.

“This is essentially a people’s contest… whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men – to lift artificial weights from all shoulders – to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all – to afford all, an unfettered start and a fair chance, in the race of life.”

-Abraham Lincoln.

July 4, 1861, after the southern states had withdrawn from the Union.

The Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. On April 8, 1864, during the Civil War, President Lincoln signed a charter for the first Deaf college in the world.

Deaf History and The Future for Gallaudet

Galludet is a Deaf college in Washington DC. To this day, charter day is celebrated annually. The 99 acre campus is home to around 1000-1200 students. But.. How did Gallaudet become a thing? Better yet to ask..

How did sign language become official?

Way before Miss Rachel and Marlee Matlin made television debuts. Well before Helen Keller. The namesake of Gallaudet University: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a brilliant young graduate of Yale University, met a nine year old girl named Alice Cogswell.

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meets Alice Cogswell

“HAT”
Thomas spent time with Alice, his neighbor. Together they wrote words in the dirt to learn and *communicate*.

The Cogswell family was prominent in the Connecticut area with ties to Yale University. Alice’s Grandfather was Reverend James Fitch who left England at ten years old to become a minister. Alice’s father, Mason Fitch Cogswell, was a Yale graduate and a surgeon.

Peter Gallaudet, father of Thomas Gallaudet, was a personal secretary to George Washington.

In the midst of wealth, prominent education, and early settler ties: The Cogswell Family funded trips to England, for Thomas to help Alice.

Thomas Gallaudet set sail to England, arriving at Braidwood School for the Deaf and Dumb in Edinburgh, Scotland. When he got there: he was surprised and disappointed to see oralism and lip-reading techniques.

The Listener: Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, the Father of American Sign Language

Paths crossed southward in London. Thomas watched in amazement as he saw two French teachers, Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc “signing”. Communicating and answering questions with hand gestures. From there, Gallaudet knew he had to persuade them.

Thomas Gallaudet persuaded Deaf French teacher Laurent Clerc to come to America, and start a school for new school for the Deaf. On June 18, 1816, Clerc left behind France and all his endeavors, and the two set sail for America.

Laurent Clerc: The Apostle of the Deaf in America

Read more on Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet

By the next Spring (1817), school was in session. Clerc and Gallaudet opened the doors to Connecticut Asylum at Hartford for the Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons (present day: American School for the Deaf)

In 1857, Postmaster General Amos Kendall donated two acres of his land towards Deaf children not receiving an education. One of the first teachers of Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind (then became known as Galludet College) was Edward Miner Gallaudet, son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.

At the time of Clerc’s death, in 1869: Gallaudet was a chartered university. Over 1500 Deaf students received an education from Hartford School. There were also 30 state-supported Deaf schools in America: From New York City to the deep south in Georgia.

Since then, through these efforts; The Deaf people have gained traction in communication and understanding...

History of American Sign Language

Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épée aka “Father of the Deaf” started the First school for the Deaf in Paris in 1760. The signs he learned and recorded were taught by the nearby Deaf community. Hand gestures have been around for centuries. In his work, Michel de l’Épée, organized and categorized the hand gestures. Later known as “Old French Sign Language (VLSF)”.

Years later, in 1960, ASL was recognized as a language. The “Father of Linguistics” William Stokoe, wrote a monograph “Sign Language Structure”.

Sign language was mainly developed in France. Hearing aids were also “invented” in France. In 1634, well before the opening of the first Deaf school. Jean Leurechon, a French priest and mathematician, worked on an Ear Trumpet.

Hearing Aid History: Ear Trumpets, European Royalty, & Earbuds

Ableist movements and oralism theories still exist. Hearing aids have been around for a while. These “fixes” are rooted in the fact that disabled people need fixed. Each one of us is different and unique. The common misconception is “THE SOLUTION”. Would the cure solve everything?

Ableism and Hearing Loss

After the Revolutionary War, American independence got its start by the Treaty of Paris. 100 years later, the Statue of Liberty was gifted by France: as a symbol of friendship and freedom.

In American history, and in Deaf history: France brought opportunity to many generations, and it deserves honor and recognition.

In today’s modern times: with the existence of technology, inventions, and a few apps. The barriers of communication are beginning to crumble.

Elon Musk’s Neuralink could reverse permanent hearing loss, make people hear again

How do Deaf People Think?
My Journey as a Deaf Trekker.

In my experience.. Being Visually Oriented; Visual aids are most helpful. Rather than to help hear, it’s best to try to understand. Some technology can be helpful, and by using it: I feel like I can understand better.