A concise illustrated history of Deaf people in America, starting with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's life-changing encounter with a young deaf girl named Alice. Gallaudet passionate about education and saddened by the lack of schools in American traveled to Europe where he met a French Deaf educator named Laurent Clerc who taught him sign language. Clerc came back with Gallaudet to start the first school in America. Sadly over 60 years later, hearing people came together in a Deaf educator's symposium and passed resolutions banning sign language and removing Deaf teachers from school. These dark times continue for over one hundred years and then the pivotal "Deaf President Now" came about marking the critical fight for equality, accessibility, and cultural recognition, ultimately highlighted by Dr. King Jordan's powerful message: "Deaf people can do anything except hear." Written by Eric Brody and combined with the expressive artwork of Courtney Monday, the stories of these heroes are vividly brought to life, making this a must-read for both children and adults who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or becoming deaf. It's a celebration of the history and contributions by many who have paved the way for every Deaf person's place and role in society today.
A concise illustrated history of Deaf people in America, starting with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's life-changing encounter with a young deaf girl named Alice. Gallaudet passionate about education and saddened by the lack of schools in American traveled to Europe where he met a French Deaf educator named Laurent Clerc who taught him sign language. Clerc came back with Gallaudet to start the first school in America. Sadly over 60 years later, hearing people came together in a Deaf educator's symposium and passed resolutions banning sign language and removing Deaf teachers from school. These dark times continue for over one hundred years and then the pivotal "Deaf President Now" came about marking the critical fight for equality, accessibility, and cultural recognition, ultimately highlighted by Dr. King Jordan's powerful message: "Deaf people can do anything except hear." Written by Eric Brody and combined with the expressive artwork of Courtney Monday, the stories of these heroes are vividly brought to life, making this a must-read for both children and adults who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or becoming deaf. It's a celebration of the history and contributions by many who have paved the way for every Deaf person's place and role in society today.