Deaf people have a very rich cultural history. Through out the years, Deaf people have been journeyed from being silenced to overcoming oppression. Read these blogs while you are completing your lessons to better understand Deaf history and perspective.
Makenna Cook / January 27th, 2026 Imagine growing up in a home where no one else uses sign language. You still need to communicate about food, feelings, school, and the world around you. So you start inventing your own signs. Over time, your family understands them. Your gestures become consistent. They become your language. This is. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / January 27th, 2026 
In the early 1800s, a young Deaf girl in Connecticut watched the world silently from her yard. Her name was Alice Cogswell. Her father noticed something remarkable: although Alice could not hear, she was eager to learn. She communicated through gestures, curiosity, and creativity, but there was no school in. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / November 25th, 2025 
Picture this, you walk into a cozy café, the smell of espresso in the air. The barista greets you with a warm smile and a quick flick of their hands in ASL (American Sign Language): GOOD MORNING!. You’ve just walked into Mozzeria, one of the nation’s most well-known Deaf-owned restaurants.. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / November 25th, 2025 
Imagine stepping off a ship in 1816. The salty air of the Atlantic swirling around you, as a young American minister named Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meets Laurent Clerc, a Deaf educator from France. Neither knows it yet, but their collaboration will spark the birth of American Sign Language (ASL), a. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / October 27th, 2025 
Imagine stepping into a bright art gallery. The walls are covered in vivid blues, glowing yellows, and deep purples. Each painting is alive. There are a pair of hands signing, a burst of color that seems to speak. You don’t need captions or sound. You feel the story. That is. . . + Read More
Amy Lazzaretti / July 17th, 2025 
A brief history of the world’s oldest deaf school in Paris, France, otherwise known as Institute National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris. Today, on July 29th, we commemorate the anniversary of the Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris (National Institute for Deaf Children of Paris), a government-recognized and funded. . . + Read More
Amy Lazzaretti / July 17th, 2025 
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) serves as a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including members of the Deaf community. Enacted in 1990, this comprehensive legislation ensures equal access and opportunities across multiple aspects of daily life. Key Protections for Deaf Individuals Employment (Title. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / June 1st, 2025 
Helen Keller left a lasting impact on DeafBlind history. Born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Helen Keller’s life story is a story of the strong-willed human spirit. Despite being blind and deaf in the 1880s, she defied all odds and emerged as an influential figure in the fields. . . + Read More
Amy Lazzaretti / March 31st, 2025 
Before the 20th century, technology to help Deaf people was very rare. Often, they were very expensive or unavailable. Most of the time, Deaf people didn’t know about their existence. They often missed out on information around them, so they had to find ways to overcome obstacles to live their. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / March 31st, 2025 
A village sign language once widely used on Martha’s Vineyard island from the early 1800s until 1952, Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) was utilized by both Deaf and hearing community members, so Deafness was not a barrier to public engagement.. . . + Read More
