Deaf History

From the Milan Aftermath towards the present.

After the 1880 Milan Convention, the use of sign language declined for the next 10 years.

Many Deaf people kept the language alive by meeting each other during the social events to sign with each other, or joined NAD in their fight to save sign language.

Although Oralism won the battle…it didn’t win the war.

Linguistic Research 1970

Hearing professor at Gallaudet University

Knows no ASL (or sign language), but learned some.

Responsible for naming American Sign Language as an official language after researching the language.

The Deaf person who created the first-ever telephone for the Deaf

It would eventually be surpassed by the creation of the TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) by Paul Taylor.

Passed in 1973. Banned discrimination against all disabled

people who seek equal access to resources that receives federal funding.

This opened many opportunities for the Deaf

Passed in 1990 Gives people with disabilities equal access

to communication and education. Banned discrimination when it comes to

employment. HUGE positive impact on the Deaf history. Closed Caption decoders are required to be

put on TVs that are larger than 13”.