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Martha's Vineyard was setttled
Founded by inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay Colony -
Martha's Vineyard Residents
One of the first residents was Jonathan Lambert and his wife. He was Deaf. Deafness ran in his family and over time deafness became common on Martha's Vineyard, even if they weren't relatives of Lambert. The island was very isolated from everything else and this resulted in intermarriage causing the gene to be expressed. -
Organized deaf education
Until 1750, organized deaf educaition did not exist. The social and religious association for deaf people was founded by Abbe de L'Epee. He is one of the most important people in the history of sign language. -
First public free deaf school
Abbe Charles Michel de L'Epee established it. Deaf children came from all across France to go to this school. -
Back to America
Gallaudet and Clerc left for America after he convinced Clerc to come to America and help him establisha school for the deaf there. After many people tried to convince Clerc not to go, Gallaudet had to sign a contract wiht SIcard saying that Clerc could only be there for three years. -
Arrival to America
Arrived in Hartford, Conn. Clerc met Alice Cogswell, the insipiration for Gallaudet's trip to Europe and everywhere else he went, Once Clerc met Alice, he became even more resloved to accomplish his mission to build a school for the Deaf in the U.S.. -
Clerc, Gallaudet, and Dr. Cogswell
From October 1816 to April 1817, the three of them traveled to many places including: Boston, NY, Philadelphia, NJ, and many others. They told people about their plans by interviewing parents of deaf children, giving speeches, and talking to prospective students. After this they raised around $12,000. They also got more money from the Connecticut General Assembly($5,000). -
Clerc addressed the Connecticut Legislature
Clerc was the first deaf person to ever do this. -
Connecticut bill
Mr. Clay helped them to get the congressmen from Connecticut to sponsor a bill that would grant the school with 23,000 acres of land in Alabama, which they could use to construct buildings for the school. -
First School for the Deaf in America
The American Asylum at Harford for the Education and Instrcution of hte Deaf and Dumb was established. Now we call it the American School for the Deaf. Gallaudet was the principal and Clerc was the head teacher. -
Clerc's last visit
Clerc got married and had six children. The last time he went to his homeland was in 1846 with one of his kids. -
Coin-silver pitcher and tray
Clerc was presented with a custom designed coin-silver pitcher and tray that the Deaf people of Connecticut had made for him becuase of everything he had done. Gallaudet also received a similar gift. -
Texas School for the Deaf
It was established in 1856, and it is a state agency that has educational services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, families, and programs. -
Retired
After teaching for 50 years, Clerc retired at the age of 73, but he still continued his advocacy for deaf education and he spoke at lots of academic functions. -
Oralism
Oralism was big, and signing was forbidden by many school administrators. This lasted for over 100 years. -
Lexington School for the Deaf
School was founded in 1864. This school is the largest school for the deaf in NY. -
Clerc died
He was 83 years old. -
Alexander Graham Belll
The strongest supporter of the oralism method. He starated an institution in Boston in 1872 that trained teachers of deaf people to use the oralism method. He really damaged the lives of deaf people. -
Milan Conference
Milan Conference occured and there was a vote about the on going dispute of sign language vs. spoken langauged. The oralism method won the vote. -
National Association of the Deaf was founded
They fought for the use of sign language and argued that oralism isn't the right educational choice for all deaf people. -
Helen Keller
Anne Sullivan singed into Helen Keller's hand and in 1887 Helen Keller fingerspelled the first word back to her. -
ASL was recognized as a national language
A hearing professor at Gallaudet University, William Stokoe, proved that ASL is a genuine language with a unique syntax and grammar. -
California State University Northridge
First college in the United States to have a paid sign language interpreter at the school -
Marlee Matlin
She was 18 months old when a sickness permantely destroyed 80 percent of the hearing in her left ear, and all of the hearing in her right ear. -
Marlee Matlin
Won the Academy Award for Best Actress -
Marlee Matlin
Received Emmy Award nomination for her work on "Seinfeld" and "Picket Fences." -
Miss America
Heather Whitestone was the first deaf Miss America. She showed everyone that deaf people can do everything hearing people can do. -
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin's first young adult book was published in 2002 called "Deaf Child Crossing." When she was 11 years old, she knew that one day she wanted to write a children's book telling the world what it was like being Deaf. -
Marlee Matlin
She published an autobiography called "I'll Scream Later." -
Inauguration
Clerc was the guest of honor at the inauguration fo the National Deaf-Mute College. (Gallaudet University)
