asl
· General history of deaf education: before 1700’s no education; 1712 first public schools; educating deaf became accepted, oral only; early 1800’s started using signs; late 1800’s more accepted to use signs and education of the deaf increased; early 1900’s-mid 1900’s deaf schools increased and oral educations only decreased emphasis; 1960’s ASL accepted as a language; 1960’s to current Deaf mainstreaming increased as well as interpreter training programs and use of interpreters.
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1. Laurent Clerc- 1785, co-founder of 1st deaf school in US along with Thomas Gallaudet; 1st Deaf teacher of the deaf at that school in US, from France
2. Alexander Graham Bell- educated the deaf using oral method, invented devices to help them hear better because he had a deaf wife and mother. A proponent of Deaf awareness and education, but not looked on well by the deaf community because of his emphasis on Oralism only.
3. William Stokoe- a linguistic who in 1960’s proved ASL is a language, which is why now ASL is taught as a Foreign language in many colleges and some high schools. This proof as well as other analytical writings and books helped deaf people win educational and civil rights.
4. Martha’s Vineyard- 1st deaf community in US during 1700-mid 1900’s. Overall 1 in 155 were born deaf, and in some areas as high as 1 in 4!! Because of the large Deaf population most of the islanders signed, and deafness was not a barrier to participate in public life. This sign language combined with signs Lauren Clerc brought from France is the basis of our current ASL.
5. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet- found 1st deaf school in US along with Laurent Clerc. His son Edward got a charter from Abe Lincoln to opened 1st deaf college in the world, and he named it in honor of his father. Gallaudet University remains the only Deaf college in the World!
