On June 27th, 1925 Andrew J. Foster was born in Ensley, Alabama to parents Veline and Wiley Foster. In 1936 when Andrew was 11 years of age he and his sibling Edward contracted Spinal Meningitis and became deaf. Foster attended the Alabama School for the Colored Deaf in Talladega. In order to continue with his education, he moved to Michigan, there at age 17, Foster went as far as the eighth grade at the Michigan School for the Deaf. In 1950. He received a diploma from the Detroit Institute of Commerce in accountancy and business administration and then his high school diploma through a correspondence course in 1951 at the age of 26. Andrew turned into the first colored understudy to go to Gallaudet University in 1951.
Inspired by a missionary from his childhood, foster went on to pursue his dream of helping others. In 1956 he composed the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans in Detroit. After this was done, he left for Africa to organize more schools and to continue to …show more content…
Foster was honored for his work in the deaf community with awards and recognitions such as an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Gallaudet in 1970. He also received the 1962 Man of the Year award from Alpha Sigma Pi and the Edward Miner Gallaudet Award from Gallaudet College Alumni Association in 1975. Foster had two underlying prodigies, Seth Tetteh-Ocloo and Gabriel Adepoju.Both became national deaf leaders in Ghana and Nigeria.
Foster died in a plane crash while en route to Kenya in December 1987. The Christian Mission for the Deaf still continues his vision by creating more schools and centers for the deaf people in Africa. Gallaudet University named an auditorium after Foster in October 2004 in recognition of his role as the “Father of Deaf Education in Africa.” The Gallaudet University Museum has an exhibit about Foster’s life as
Inspired by a missionary from his childhood, foster went on to pursue his dream of helping others. In 1956 he composed the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans in Detroit. After this was done, he left for Africa to organize more schools and to continue to …show more content…
Foster was honored for his work in the deaf community with awards and recognitions such as an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Gallaudet in 1970. He also received the 1962 Man of the Year award from Alpha Sigma Pi and the Edward Miner Gallaudet Award from Gallaudet College Alumni Association in 1975. Foster had two underlying prodigies, Seth Tetteh-Ocloo and Gabriel Adepoju.Both became national deaf leaders in Ghana and Nigeria.
Foster died in a plane crash while en route to Kenya in December 1987. The Christian Mission for the Deaf still continues his vision by creating more schools and centers for the deaf people in Africa. Gallaudet University named an auditorium after Foster in October 2004 in recognition of his role as the “Father of Deaf Education in Africa.” The Gallaudet University Museum has an exhibit about Foster’s life as