History of ASL

ASL has been around ~250-200 years

Mid 1960s ASL deemed a language

Evidence that in the 1600s many inhabitants of Martha’s vineyard were deaf and created regional signs

Regional signs came from indigenous peoples as well

First school of the deaf in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817

French SL + Regional signs influenced ASL

ASL made by Laurent Clerc a teacher from France and Thomas Gallaudet an American minister

19th century ASL flourished in schools

Gallaudet University founded in 1864 with charter signed by Abraham Lincoln

In 1880 at International Conference on Education of the Deaf in Milan, Italy the majority voted to teach purely oralism to deaf children

• This regressed much progress over 40 years

Thankfully they were able to still teach each other ASL outside of the classroom

In 1988 the students of Gallaudet University protested having a hearing president that did not know ASL and got the first deaf president instated

Studies show that babies learning sign language enhances language development, vocabulary development, and sophisticated thought

ANDREW FOSTER (1925 -1987)

• Spent his life dedicated to improving education for Deaf

• Many schools opened in West Africa

• Born in Alabama and attended Alabama School for the Colored Deaf

• Lost his hearing at age 11

• Attended Gallaudet University as one of the first three African American Deaf students in 1951

• Received bachelor’s in 1954

• First to receive

• Deeply determined to help Deaf people in Africa

• Founded Christian Mission for the Deaf

• Went to Africa in 1957

• Within a year, had first school with 12 students

• Grew to 53 Deaf students

• By 1959 the school had a waiting list of 100 and by 5 years the waiting list was 300

• Established 31 schools for the Deaf across Africa

• Used sign language for communication

• Total communication also used

• Taught how to sign, read, and write

• Culture in Africa

  • Didn’t “have” deaf children

  • Hidden at home

  • Remote villages thought cursed by demons

  • Abandoned to be eaten by wild animals