Honoring a Rich Legacy: Celebrating Deaf History Month

By Henry Weisensee

April is National Deaf History Month, a time to take a look back and pay tribute to the vibrant

history of the Deaf community's rich contributions to our world. This observance, now

celebrated in its entirety during April, began in 1997 with Deaf librarian Alice Hagemeyer's

establishment of Deaf Awareness Week. It was in 2006 that the American Library Association

and the National Association of the Deaf stretched this celebration out into a month,

commemorating landmarks in Deaf history.

Key Moments in Deaf History

The period from March 13 to April 15 was chosen to coincide with milestone events:

- April 15, 1817: Opening of the American School for the Deaf at Hartford, Connecticut, as

America's first public school for the Deaf in the United States.

- April 8, 1864: The opening of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the first of its kind in

the world to offer advanced studies to Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

- March 13, 1988: The election of Dr. I. King Jordan as the first Deaf president of Gallaudet

University, following the "Deaf President Now" movement.

Source: insightintodiversity.com

The Essence of Deaf Culture

Deaf culture is a richly textured cloth of common experience, values, and, above all, sign

languages. Sign languages are rich, visual languages with their own grammar and syntax, and area cornerstone of Deaf identity. They facilitate nuanced expression and create a powerful sense ofcommunity among Deaf people. The diversity of sign languages worldwide reflects the unique

histories and experiences of Deaf communities around the world.

Reflecting on Achievements and Challenges

In celebrating the achievement and resilience of the Deaf community, we must also reflect on

current challenges. Access to services, employment, and social attitudes continue to be barriers

for Deaf people. Celebrating Deaf History Month not only acknowledges past achievement, but

also serves as a reminder of the progress that still needs to be made for advocacy and equality.

Looking Ahead

As we mark Deaf History Month this April, let us study further about Deaf history and culture.

Access resources, attend events, and, most importantly, hear from and amplify the voices of Deafpeople. In doing so, we enrich our common experience and move closer to an ever-fairer society.

*Note: "Deaf" and "hard-of-hearing" encompass a continuum of hearing acuity and identity.

Throughout this editorial, "Deaf" refers to those identifying culturally as part of the Deaf

community, and "hard-of-hearing" refers to those with varying hearing loss who do or do not

identify with Deaf culture.*

Sources

https://library.springfield.edu/deia-resources/deaf-history-month? (2025)

https://www.insightintodiversity.com/national-deaf-history-month/? (2020)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_culture? (2025)

https://blogs.gwu.edu/himmelfarb/2021/04/12/celebrating-national-deaf-history-month/? (2021)