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1550 BCE
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt has the first known reference of deafness within society. These people were perplexed and confused with their response to someone who was deaf. Education was not an option, nor was it considered. -
355 BCE
Aristotle
Aristotle believed that "those who become deaf become altogether speechless...voice is no lacking but there is no speech." -
Jan 1, 1470
Rodolphus Agricola
Rodolphus Agicola was a Dutch scholar who is credited with teaching deaf children to communicate orally and through writing. This was considered the first modern account of deaf education. -
Jan 1, 1550
Pedro Ponce de Leon
Pedro Ponce de Leon is considered to be the "Father of Deaf Education." He is credited with beginning the first school for deaf children in Spain. -
Jan 1, 1570
Girolamo Cardano
Girolamo Cardano was an Italian mathematician and physician. He developed a theory, that was however never tested, that being deaf created a barrier to learning rather then being a proposed mental condition. -
Juan Pablo Bonet
Juan Pablo Bonet was a strong advocate of speech, lip reading, and educating deaf people on these principles. -
Abbé Charles Michel de l'Épée
Abbé Charles Michel de l'Épée established a program for the deaf in Paris, France. It later became France's first supported state school. -
Thomas Braidwood
Thomas Braidwood set up the first school for the deaf in England. He tried to enlist the public's support of an oralism approach to education. -
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
After graduating college, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet returns home and meets his neighbor Mason Cogswell and his daughter, Alice. Alice was deaf and he took an interest in teaching her. -
Mason Cogswell
Mason Cogswell was in search of education for his daughter, Alice, who was deaf. He met Gallaudet who began to teach her simple signs to communicate. Both Gallaudet and Cogswell wanted to open a school for teaching deaf children. -
Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc was a deaf man who met up with Gallaudet and Cogswell in France. He taught them sign language and they began to teach him English. -
The Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons
When Gallaudet and Clerc arrived back in America, they successfully opened the first school for deaf children. This was also the country's first special education program. The name was later changed to the American School for the Deaf. -
Edward Gallaudet
At age 20, Edward Gallaudet founded the Columbia Institution for the Deaf, Dumb & Blind. -
Gallaudet University
Columbia Institution for the Deaf, Dumb & Blind was changed to Gallaudet University in 1864. Edward Gallaudet received a grant and is credited with establishing the world's first deaf college. -
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was a strong advocate for the oral method of teaching. He traveled to different schools throughout New England to promote teaching speech to deaf children. -
Milan Conference
The Milan Conference was worldwide and the goal was to discuss the education of deaf children. During the conference, oralism was recognized as the preferred mode of communication. -
National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
The NAD was formed as a non-profit organization with the goal to advocate for Deaf rights. -
Deaf President Now (begins)
Students at Gallaudet University began the protest movement Deaf President Now prior to the upcoming inauguration of a hearing president of the college. -
Deaf President Now (ends)
The Deaf President Now protest ends when the hearing president steps down and a Deaf president takes over. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed
The ADA was signed, which included accommodations to be made for Deaf people.
