Deaf Awareness Week – May 6-12, 2024

History of Deaf Awareness Week

From the earliest times, deaf people have formed communities whenever they come together in a specific geographic area. One example is the island of Martha’s Vineyard in the U.S., where a large population of deaf people lived in harmony from the 17th to the mid-20th century with their hearing counterparts. Sign language was widespread on the island, and deafness was an accepted part of life.

However, such communities were rare. In Europe, only a few religious leaders attempted to educate the deaf children of the nobility. In the 1540s, Spanish monk Pedro Ponce de León of the Benedictine order taught 10 to 12 other deaf people at his monastery. It is only in the 18th century that the state began sponsoring deaf education.

Education for the deaf in the early 19th century was largely religiously motivated. It was more focused on saving deaf people’s souls, to ensure that they were sufficiently trained to understand the word of God. Later in the century, the conversation shifted to training deaf people to become good national citizens.

Unfortunately in the 20th century, there was a suppression of sign language in schools. This led to the rise of clubs, associations, international organizations, and events that highlighted the plight of deaf communities. One of the most notable events is the Silent Games (also known as the World Games of the Deaf, or the Deaflympics), established in 1924. Such moves reminded the public that the deaf are healthy, vigorous, and modern individuals.

Today, deaf communities are politically organized on local, national, and international levels. Advancements in technology have brought about improved auditory enhancement devices and implants. This has resulted in a better quality of life for the deaf and hard of hearing.