Earliest Known History of Deaf People

Expansion of Deaf Education

Deaf People in Ancient Times

Deaf People in the Renaissance (A.D.1400-1600)

Deaf People in Biblical Times (700 B.C.- A.D. 400)

In Europe and France

Deaf People in the Middle Ages (A.D. 400-1400)

Treatment of Deaf People

Overlooked

Survival of the fittest

Treatment of Deaf People

Accepted in Society?

Evolution of Speech

Treatment of Deaf People

Accepted in Society?

Accepted in Society?

Gestures

had the right to bear children

were more accepted into high society

belief that being deaf meant a lack of intelligence was denounced

Yes!

Most likely killed or abandoned

Directional gestures like pointing

Identified people, places, things

evolved into grunts and sounds

Created speech

Sign language and gestures theorized to help create verbal speech

Yes by the Greeks

Socrates' statement

"Suppose we had no voice or tongue, and wanted to indicate objects to one another, should we not, like the deaf and dumb, make signs with the hands, head and the rest of the body?"

Somewhat by Hebrews

Disabilities are a fact of life

Yes by Christians

Excluded from church

On the basis of Romans 10:17

Did not give same rights to deaf individuals

Aristotle disagreed

"Those who are born deaf all become senseless and incapable of reasoning."

Differentiated b/w born deaf and hearing lost later in life

prelingually deaf and born deaf

postlingually deaf

Given more rights

Could own property

Treated like children

Believed to be easily tricked

Any deaf individual could not participate fully in temple

He received a lot of backlash

Meaning of quote questioned over time

Believed hearing is the main contributor to intelligence

Somewhat by the Romans

thought to be insane

committed to asylums

thought to be deaf as a result of demonic possession

Viewed as heathens by Christians

belief that they could not be saved by God

Deaf people should have special attention and protection

Differentiated b/w born deaf and losing hearing later on

Justinian Code (A.D. 528)

"Deaf but not dumb, deaf from birth"

"Deaf, from an accident"

"Deaf and Dumb not from birth"

"Dumb, born or became dumb"

"Deaf and Dumb from birth"

believed to not be able to learn, deaf and mute

had privileges if they could still write

hard of hearing

still has all legal rights

mute individual

little to no privileges

still used speech

still uses speech

given some rights if can read and write

Not by Christians

Subjected to horrible experiments

thought being deaf was a milady to be cured

had various liquids poured into their ears

people became more interested in teaching deaf individuals

Monks used signs from their "Vow of Silence" to teach children

taught to read and write

recognized as people of ability

education still only available for rich and royal

Juan Fernandez X. Navaretta, born deaf and mute

El Mudo: "the mute one"

Court painter for King Phillip II

Ponce de Leon taught Pedro and Francisco de Velasco

Early Education Offerings (1600-1700)

opportunities for learning greatly expanded

William Holder and John Wallis considered the first teachers of deaf ppl

1680: Didascalocophus published, written by George Dalgarno

1628: Treatise on the Nature of Bodies published

Henry Baker opened first school for the deaf in England

1620: The Simplification of Letters and the Art of Teaching the Mute to Speak published

Spread the idea that deaf people could be taught

Holder

Elements of Speech with an Appendix Concerning People, Deaf &Dumb

Wallis

Grammar of English for Foreigners with an Essay on Speech or the Formulation of Sounds

Early childhood learning advocate

created his version of a fingerspelling alphabet

kept teaching methods secret

published Motion of Fingers

Industrial Revolution

Private schools opened for deaf children

believed deaf people were indeed capable of intelligence

teachers were still secretive about their methods

Abbe de l'Epee was different

Opened the first school for deaf students using sign language as the medium of teaching

Published two books

was able to communicate using signs

he didn't create the signs, he learned from his deaf students

The National Institute for Deaf-Mutes was completely free to attend

first of its kind

1776: Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb by Means of Methodical Signs

1784: True Manner of Instructing the Deaf and Dumb, Confirmed by Long Practice