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- Kenyanah B.
- Monday, April 03, 2023
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National Deaf History Month celebrates the history of deaf culture and the many achievements made by individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. National Deaf History Month was traditionally observed March 13 to April 15 to recognize three key developments for the Deaf community in the United States which included:
- April 15, 1817: The first school for the deaf in the United States was founded, The American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut.
- April 8, 1864: The first university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing was founded, Gallaudet University.
- March 13, 1988: The first deaf president of Gallaudet University was elected after a successful student protest, Irving King Jordan.
In 2022, National Deaf History Month was changed to be observed from April 1-30. After the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) , Deaf Culture and History Section (DCHS), and organizations representing marginalized communities recommended the change in dates to celebrate all Deaf persons in the U.S. and to be inclusive of experiences of BIPOC Deaf people.