Thomas Gallaudet: American School For The Deaf

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After American sign language was first brought to the United States they were finally able to communicate with the deaf. Before 1816, no one knew how to communicate with people who were deaf. Thomas Gallaudet tried helping a little deaf girl learn when her father decided to have Gallaudet go to Europe to learn techniques. Through his efforts of teaching deaf children, Thomas Gallaudet brought American sign language in the United States as well as creating a deaf college. Thomas Gallaudet went to theological Seminary at Andover in 1811 and became an ordained minister at the age of twenty-seven years old. Gallaudet's neighbor was deaf and he attempted to teach her. After watching him, the father was amazed that he never gave up. Filled with …show more content…
The council of merchants and educators gathered and found an empty building and the school for the deaf began. The American School for the deaf was opened originally as a private institution. Gallaudet was the principal from 1817 until April 6, 1830. “ In 1830 Thomas retired from being the principal of the school. There were hundreds of deaf students by then that could read and write.” (Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet American Sign Language ASL par. 5). Thomas Gallaudet helped many students while he was the principal including helping them learn to read and write. After Gallaudet’s death in 1851, he left a legacy for every deaf person in …show more content…
Also Gallaudet opened up the first deaf school. The effects of sign language in autistic children had been studied. Various “disabled” children have demonstrated a higher quality of communication. Communication is important for the emotional development of all children. Children with disabilities sometimes have trouble in this area and caregivers need to give a high quality interaction by using sign languages that provide a non-verbal communication. The development of a language has beneficial effects throughout a child’s life. Sign language is shown to have a big part of a child’s mental health. It says “Signing at a young age can also benefit children who are special needs children”(The Benefits of American Sign Language ASL par. 5). American sign language helps special needs children because it helps them communicate with their caregivers and interact with them better. Sign language is a good way to promote self-esteem and confidence in the deaf or hard of hearing. They may not have felt safe because they were being neglected, but now with sign language they are respected. They can walk around and feel normal and not be scared and this is all because we now have American sign

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