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French Sign Language started
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Laurent Clerc brought to U.S.
Clerc was brought to the U.S. by Thomas Gallaudet to begin teaching deaf people. -
Gallaudet University founded
The first exclusively deaf college. -
Oralist method popularized
Alexander Graham Bell began a school using the oralist method where deaf individuals were forced to speak and read lips and were punished for using sign. -
Milan conference
The Milan conference bans the use of sign language in schools teaching deaf children and pushes for oralism to be used, something Alexander Graham Bell had a personal hand in. -
National Association of the Deaf
The foundation of this association allows deaf people to fight for their rights, including their right to their own language instead of being forced to read lips. -
First ASL dictionary completed
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PL94-142
This is a law that was signed in and gave children with disabilities, including those who were deaf, the right to free public schooling whereas previously they were forced into expensive private schools. -
Americans with Disabilities act
This law was passed for all people with disabilities and states that they are not allowed to be discriminated against due to their disabilities and the fact that they may need extra assistance. -
Current day ASL
The pandemic allowed a greater view of ASL interpreters as we frequently saw them on state and national news stations almost daily. People have also been more exposed than ever to the difficulties deaf people face every day through the use of masks.