Unheard in History:Unheard in History:A Fight for Human RightsA Fight for Human Rights

Lauralye Alison MikoLauralye Alison MikoASL 101 Research Project ASL 101 Research Project

A Community that Always A Community that Always Existed…Existed…

Documentation about a deaf culture found in Documentation about a deaf culture found in numerous texts and citations through out numerous texts and citations through out history…history…

Ancient EgyptiansAncient Egyptians GreeksGreeks Writings of Confucius in ChinaWritings of Confucius in China The Bible The Bible ““You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before

the blind” Leviticus 11:14the blind” Leviticus 11:14

QuestionQuestion: If the Deaf have existed in virtually every : If the Deaf have existed in virtually every documented society of our world history, why documented society of our world history, why have understanding and rights for the Deaf have understanding and rights for the Deaf Community come so slowly is our Western Culture?Community come so slowly is our Western Culture?

Problems From the Problems From the BeginningBeginning

1000 B.C.1000 B.C. - Hebrew Law (the Talmud) restricted Deaf - Hebrew Law (the Talmud) restricted Deaf from owning property. from owning property.

427-347 B.C.427-347 B.C. - Plato's philosophy of “Innate - Plato's philosophy of “Innate intelligence” intelligence” ““All intelligence was present at birth. All people are born perfect All intelligence was present at birth. All people are born perfect

abstracts, ideas and language in their minds and required only time abstracts, ideas and language in their minds and required only time to demonstrate their intelligence. Without speech there was no to demonstrate their intelligence. Without speech there was no outward sign of intelligence, so Deaf people must not be capable of outward sign of intelligence, so Deaf people must not be capable of ideas or language”ideas or language”

Roman LawRoman Law – Restricted Deaf from Marriage – Restricted Deaf from Marriage 384-322 B.C.384-322 B.C. - Aristotle's philosophy concerning - Aristotle's philosophy concerning

deafness: "Deaf people could not be educated deafness: "Deaf people could not be educated without hearing, people could not learn." Greek was without hearing, people could not learn." Greek was the perfect language; all people who did not speak the perfect language; all people who did not speak Greek were considered Barbarians. Greek were considered Barbarians.

Religious PersecutionReligious Persecution

354-430 A.D.354-430 A.D. - St. Augustine's Guilt Trip - sins of - St. Augustine's Guilt Trip - sins of parents were visited on their children; therefore parents were visited on their children; therefore "afflicted'' children was a sign of God's anger or "afflicted'' children was a sign of God's anger or punishment for secret sins punishment for secret sins

Dark AgesDark Ages - the early part of the Middle Ages: - the early part of the Middle Ages: Deaf adults objects of ridicule (court jesters) or Deaf adults objects of ridicule (court jesters) or committed to asylums because of speech and committed to asylums because of speech and behavior thought to be possessed by demons behavior thought to be possessed by demons

Middle Ages 476-1453Middle Ages 476-1453 - "people born deaf could - "people born deaf could not have faith, could not be saved and were barred not have faith, could not be saved and were barred from churches" Must be able to "hear" the word of from churches" Must be able to "hear" the word of God - Punishment from GodGod - Punishment from God

Misdiagnoses and Misdiagnoses and MisunderstandingsMisunderstandings

Deaf sent to Mental institutions and Deaf sent to Mental institutions and Homes for the mentally ill.Homes for the mentally ill.

Many cases of misdiagnoses until about Many cases of misdiagnoses until about 1970’s (First Deaf School 1817). 1970’s (First Deaf School 1817). Unsuitable Testing for ChildrenUnsuitable Testing for Children Lack of knowledgeLack of knowledge Case of Mattie Hodge & others.Case of Mattie Hodge & others.

Destruction of DevelopmentDestruction of Development Social Interactions, Education, and Loss of Social Interactions, Education, and Loss of

LanguageLanguage

The Beginning of a Deaf The Beginning of a Deaf CommunityCommunity

Deaf Schools and Residential institutionsDeaf Schools and Residential institutions 1817- Hartford Connecticut1817- Hartford Connecticut Continue to expandContinue to expand Over 50 Schools by the turn of the centuryOver 50 Schools by the turn of the century

ProsPros Finally had a safe place for educationFinally had a safe place for education Brought Deaf together and started the tight-Brought Deaf together and started the tight-

knit communities still around todayknit communities still around today ConsCons

Often ran by oralists, who tried to “normalize” Often ran by oralists, who tried to “normalize” deaf children.deaf children.

Collection from Maryland School for the Deaf

American School for The Deaf: In one of the earliest photos of the American School for the Deaf, Girls pose for the student plcture in front of the "Old Hartford" building.

““Many deaf adults and signing teachers Many deaf adults and signing teachers

referred to the ‘natural language of referred to the ‘natural language of signs,’ but oralist believed that signs,’ but oralist believed that

speech was the ‘normal’ or ‘universal’ speech was the ‘normal’ or ‘universal’ way to communicate among civilized way to communicate among civilized

humans. The depth of feeling was humans. The depth of feeling was great on both sides, and the conflict great on both sides, and the conflict

of ideas and values lead to of ideas and values lead to accusations of dishonesty and accusations of dishonesty and

hypocrisy. The Terms ‘natural’ and hypocrisy. The Terms ‘natural’ and ‘normal’ remain tangled up in this ‘normal’ remain tangled up in this

enduring argument”enduring argument”

Alexander Bell- Friend or Alexander Bell- Friend or Foe?Foe?

Inventor of the phoneInventor of the phone Worked closely with Worked closely with

the Deafthe Deaf OralistOralist Sent out “warning” Sent out “warning”

about deafabout deaf ““Those who believe as Those who believe as

I do, that the I do, that the production of a production of a defective race would defective race would be a great calamity to be a great calamity to the world”the world”

Deaf in the HolocaustDeaf in the Holocaust

Hitler’s Perfect Hitler’s Perfect NationNation

250,000 disabled 250,000 disabled peoplepeople

1500 Deaf/hearing 1500 Deaf/hearing ImparedImpared

1000’s forcibly 1000’s forcibly SterilizedSterilized

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

Depression hard on Depression hard on Deaf Community. Deaf Community.

Worked Odd jobs and Worked Odd jobs and received help from received help from othersothers

Obtained Work in Obtained Work in WW1 and WW2 from WW1 and WW2 from depleted work forcedepleted work force

Integrated into the Integrated into the work force.work force.

Deaf in the MediaDeaf in the Media

1902-19861902-1986 Over 150 movies and Over 150 movies and

TV shows featuring TV shows featuring deaf characters.deaf characters.

Not played by DeafNot played by Deaf LonelyLonely DependantDependant UneducatedUneducated Tragic figureTragic figure Lacked independence Lacked independence

and a close knit and a close knit communitycommunity

The Right (or Not) To DriveThe Right (or Not) To Drive

Ability to Drive Ability to Drive revoked in 4 Statesrevoked in 4 States

Separate one Separate one ability from ability from anotheranother

Protests and ralliesProtests and rallies

Roger DesmarairRoger Desmarair 11stst and only and only

Deaf tattoo Deaf tattoo artist in North artist in North AmericaAmerica

Successful Successful buisnessmanbuisnessman

Integrating Integrating Mainstrea and Mainstrea and Deaf cultureDeaf culture

NontraditionalNontraditional Inspiration for Inspiration for

Deaf youth.Deaf youth.

American Disabilities ActAmerican Disabilities Act

““discrimination based on discrimination based on disability being illegal disability being illegal in employment, public in employment, public transportation, public transportation, public programs, programs, telecommunications, telecommunications, and pubic and pubic accommodations such accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, as restaurants, hotels, shopping centers and shopping centers and offices.”offices.”

Pearl Jam in ConcertPearl Jam in Concert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8ByjoK3VVcv=N8ByjoK3VVc

Works CitedWorks CitedBergey, Jean L. Bergey, Jean L. History Through Deaf EyesHistory Through Deaf Eyes. Gallaudet University. 12 Oct. . Gallaudet University. 12 Oct.

2007. <http://depts.gallaudet.edu/deafeyes/exhibit/>2007. <http://depts.gallaudet.edu/deafeyes/exhibit/>Berke, Jamie. “Deaf History-Deaf, Not Retarded”. Berke, Jamie. “Deaf History-Deaf, Not Retarded”. AboutAbout. 2007.The New . 2007.The New

York Times Company. 13 Oct. 2007. York Times Company. 13 Oct. 2007. <http://deafness.about.com/cs/featurearticles/a/retarded.htm?p=1>.<http://deafness.about.com/cs/featurearticles/a/retarded.htm?p=1>.

Berke, Jamie. “Deaf History- Deaf People- Great Depression”. Berke, Jamie. “Deaf History- Deaf People- Great Depression”. AboutAbout. . 2007.The New York Times Company. 13 Oct. 2007. 2007.The New York Times Company. 13 Oct. 2007. <http://deafness.about.com/od/historicprogress/a/greatdepression.ht<http://deafness.about.com/od/historicprogress/a/greatdepression.htm?p=1>. m?p=1>.

Berke, Jamie. “Deaf History-Deaf People- Holocaust”. Berke, Jamie. “Deaf History-Deaf People- Holocaust”. AboutAbout. 2007.The . 2007.The New York Times Company. 13 Oct. 2007. New York Times Company. 13 Oct. 2007. <http://deafness.about.com/cs/featurearticles/a/holocaust.htm?p=1>.<http://deafness.about.com/cs/featurearticles/a/holocaust.htm?p=1>.

““Deaf Time-Line” ASLinfo. 2007. 12 Oct. 2007. Deaf Time-Line” ASLinfo. 2007. 12 Oct. 2007. <http://www.aslinfo.com/trivia.cfm> <http://www.aslinfo.com/trivia.cfm>

““Historical Issues in the Deaf Community”. Historical Issues in the Deaf Community”. Centre for Deaf StudiesCentre for Deaf Studies. . 2007. University of Bristol Centre for Deaf Studies. 12 Oct. 2007. 2007. University of Bristol Centre for Deaf Studies. 12 Oct. 2007. <http://www.signstation.org/assets/pdf/historicalaspects.pdf>.<http://www.signstation.org/assets/pdf/historicalaspects.pdf>.

““Holocaust” Holocaust” WikipediaWikipedia. 2007. 13 Oct. 2007. . 2007. 13 Oct. 2007. <http://en.wikipedia.rg.wiki/deaf>.<http://en.wikipedia.rg.wiki/deaf>.

Thomas, Mia. “Only deaf tattoo artist in North America!.” Thomas, Mia. “Only deaf tattoo artist in North America!.” AllDeafAllDeaf. 29 July . 29 July 2006. 13 Oct. 2007. <http://www.alldeaf.com/594202-post1.html>.2006. 13 Oct. 2007. <http://www.alldeaf.com/594202-post1.html>.