Prominent Deaf Leaders
DEAF WORLD
The great leaders are identified in two groups
First group are the intercultural leaders
These leaders were born to hearing parents or became Deaf after learning to speak English. Also they have an extensive contact with the larger and hearing society which help the Deaf community.
The second group of leaders are the culturally centered (grassroots) Deaf Leaders
These leaders were born to Deaf parents. They also have cultural knowledge of Deaf Culture and ASL fluent. They are mostly found positions in education, Deaf organizations and athletic organizations.
Majority of the Deaf children are born to hearing parents or have become prelingually deaf. Which most do not feel like they fit into either groups.
22 NAD presidents were postlingually deaf from the start of the NAD in 1880 to 1978.
Except Larry Newman, he lost his hearing at the age of five. He was born to deaf parents.
The factors the deaf individuals lost their period due to serious illnesses such as measles, spinal meningitis, or scarlet fever to name a few.
Which these people were fluent in spoken English before they lost their hearing.
Which they often retained their use of speech even after becoming deaf.
Childhood diseases through immunization saw the decrease of children become deaf at later ages. There was a higher occurrence of children who were born deaf but due to hereditary causes within families.
Notable Deaf Leaders
Frederick Schreiber
Has a life-size oil painting at NAD headquarters.
Lost his hearing at the age of 6 in New York. He attended the New York School for the Deaf. He then graduated from Gallaudet College.
He is remembered for his fights and advocacy for deaf people's rights.
Andrew Foster
He went deaf at the age of 11. He went to Alabama School for the Deaf. He was also known as the first African American to graduate from Gallaudet College as well as from Eastern Michigan University.
He went to Christian Mission College in Washington where he became a minister. He also went to Africa to help over 30 schools for deaf children. He died in a plane crash in 1987.
I. King Jordan
He was the eighth president of Gallaudet University. Lost his hearing in a motorcycle accident when he was young while being in the U.S Navy in Washington. He was the first Deaf President of Gallaudet University in March 1988. He retired in December of 2006.
Robert Davila, Ph.D
Has had numerous positions within the education field. He taught at Gallaudet University where he was promoted university vice president.
President George H.W. picked him to become the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rebilitation in the US Department of Education.
Which was the highest position a deaf person was ever held.
Robert and Michelle Smithdas
Both are deaf-blind. Robert was the first deaf blind person who graduated with a bachelor's and later earned his master's in 1953 at New York University.
Entrepreneurs
David Birnbaum
He owns the Birnbaum Interpreting Services in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Eric and Moon Feris are two of the four deaf-owned interpreting/videophone firms.
Joe Dannis
He founded DawnSignPress in San Diego
It was created with focus on ASL. He created it 25 years ago. In 1997, he received the Small Businessperson of the Year award for the statue of California.
Trudy Suggs
She is a prolific writer. She also established the T.S Writing Services in 2003.
The services provides writing, editing, and designing in ASL and English. She has worked with individuals and businesses all over the world.
She works from home in a log house outside Faribault, Minnesota. Her business predominantly works via the Internet and video technology.
Deaf Wax Museum
It was one of the most popular attractions at the 2005 Deaf Seniors Conference in San Francisco.
Which gave people the opportunity to go face-to-face with famous deaf individuals.
William Hoy's Demure was there in his Washington baseball uniform.
He was one of the first deaf player in the major leagues.
Other notable figures that were included there were the Girl Scots of America founder who was Juliette Gordon Low.
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet who founded the American School for the Deaf. Laurent Clerc, he was one of the first Deaf teacher in America.
Also Don Baer, who is a native Californian. He founded the Deaf Heritage Wax Collection.
He had a desire to preserve Deaf heritage and culture by creating a collection of a hundred wax figures with individuals who have represented and influenced Deaf people throughout the years.
Don still to this day had added more to his collection. The latest person he has done is Bernard Bragg performing mime.
The DEAFWAX museum has been in 25 local and national events for the last ten years.