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Happy #DisabilityPrideMonth! To celebrate, here's a big thread of many of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing people throughout history!
Beethoven
Started losing his hearing at 30, by 44 he was deaf.
His housekeepers remembered that as his hearing got worse, he would sit at the piano, put a pencil in his mouth, touching the other end of it to the soundboard of the instrument, to feel the vibration of the note.
Started losing his hearing at 30, by 44 he was deaf.
His housekeepers remembered that as his hearing got worse, he would sit at the piano, put a pencil in his mouth, touching the other end of it to the soundboard of the instrument, to feel the vibration of the note.
Thomas Edison
He thought his deafness was a blessing, saying it kept conversations short so he had more time to work. He once said to a group of 300 hard of hearing adults, "Deaf people should take to reading. It beats the babble of ordinary conversation."
He thought his deafness was a blessing, saying it kept conversations short so he had more time to work. He once said to a group of 300 hard of hearing adults, "Deaf people should take to reading. It beats the babble of ordinary conversation."
Hellen Keller
American author, political activist and lecturer, she was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. The deaf community was widely impacted by her. She travelled to 25 countties to give motivational speeches about deaf people's conditions.
American author, political activist and lecturer, she was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. The deaf community was widely impacted by her. She travelled to 25 countties to give motivational speeches about deaf people's conditions.
Andrew Foster
A missionary to the deaf in Ghana, Rwanda and other African countries. In 1954, he became the first Deaf African American to earn a bachelor's degree from Gallaudet, first to earn a master's from Eastern Michigan and earned a second master's from Seattle Pacific.
A missionary to the deaf in Ghana, Rwanda and other African countries. In 1954, he became the first Deaf African American to earn a bachelor's degree from Gallaudet, first to earn a master's from Eastern Michigan and earned a second master's from Seattle Pacific.
Pierre Desloges
French bookbinder. In 1779, he wrote what may be the first book published by a deaf person. He advocated for the use of sign language in deaf education. He describes a community of deaf people using a sign language (now referred to as old French sign language.)
French bookbinder. In 1779, he wrote what may be the first book published by a deaf person. He advocated for the use of sign language in deaf education. He describes a community of deaf people using a sign language (now referred to as old French sign language.)
Laurent Clerc
French teacher called "The apostle of the Deaf in America" and was regarded as the most renowned deaf person in American Deaf history. Be co-founded the first deaf school in North America and it remains the oldest existing school for the death in North America.
French teacher called "The apostle of the Deaf in America" and was regarded as the most renowned deaf person in American Deaf history. Be co-founded the first deaf school in North America and it remains the oldest existing school for the death in North America.
Whoopi Goldberg
"I attribute my own hearing loss to years and years of listening to music so loudly and so close to the delicate ear drum". She urges teens to turn down their speakers so they don't suffer the same fate.
"I attribute my own hearing loss to years and years of listening to music so loudly and so close to the delicate ear drum". She urges teens to turn down their speakers so they don't suffer the same fate.
Casar Jacobson
Deaf Norweigan-Canadian UN disability rights campaigner, she is a disability, equality and gender rights activist, and UN women youth campion. She has also been a successful pageant contestant, winning multiple titles, including Miss Canada Globe.
Deaf Norweigan-Canadian UN disability rights campaigner, she is a disability, equality and gender rights activist, and UN women youth campion. She has also been a successful pageant contestant, winning multiple titles, including Miss Canada Globe.
Earnest Elmo Calkins
He was a deaf American advertising executive who pioneered the use of art in advertising, of fictional characters, the soft sell and the idea of "consumer engineering".
He was a deaf American advertising executive who pioneered the use of art in advertising, of fictional characters, the soft sell and the idea of "consumer engineering".
Punk Chef
Scott Garthwaite is a professional celebrity deaf chef and TV presenter for BSL Zone and BBC cooking shows. While studying for his degree, he began to make vlogs in BSL for the deaf community.
Scott Garthwaite is a professional celebrity deaf chef and TV presenter for BSL Zone and BBC cooking shows. While studying for his degree, he began to make vlogs in BSL for the deaf community.
Nyle Dimarco
American model, actor and deaf activist. In 2015, he was the second male winner and first deaf winner of America's Next Top Model, being the only deaf contestant in the show's history. The following year he won Dancing With the Stars.
American model, actor and deaf activist. In 2015, he was the second male winner and first deaf winner of America's Next Top Model, being the only deaf contestant in the show's history. The following year he won Dancing With the Stars.
Aryana Engineer
Made her debut in the 2009 horror movie, Ophan. Her neighbour knew the producers were searching for a blonde haired girl who could sign and offered her the role.
Made her debut in the 2009 horror movie, Ophan. Her neighbour knew the producers were searching for a blonde haired girl who could sign and offered her the role.
Claudia L. Gordon
The first deaf Black female attorney in the US. Got Skadden Fellowship for law graduates working with disabled people, "direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf person's with a particular emphasis on outreach to those who are members of minority groups."
The first deaf Black female attorney in the US. Got Skadden Fellowship for law graduates working with disabled people, "direct representation and advocacy for poor deaf person's with a particular emphasis on outreach to those who are members of minority groups."
Liisa Kauppinen
Finnish human rights activist.After serving as executive director of the Finnish association of the Deaf,she became the first woman to be appointed President of the World Federation of the Deaf.She's fluent in Finnish, Swedish, English,ASL and international sign!
Finnish human rights activist.After serving as executive director of the Finnish association of the Deaf,she became the first woman to be appointed President of the World Federation of the Deaf.She's fluent in Finnish, Swedish, English,ASL and international sign!
James G. Kyte
Retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Kyte made history by being the first (and to date, only) legally deaf National Hockey League player, playing 598 games in the NHL.
Retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Kyte made history by being the first (and to date, only) legally deaf National Hockey League player, playing 598 games in the NHL.
Geraldine Jerrie Lawhorn
She was a figure of the American Deaf-Blind community, performer, actor, pianist and instructor at the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired. At 67, she became the first Deaf-Blind African American to earn a college degree in the USA.
She was a figure of the American Deaf-Blind community, performer, actor, pianist and instructor at the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired. At 67, she became the first Deaf-Blind African American to earn a college degree in the USA.
Marlee Maitlin
American actress, author and activist. She is the only deaf performer to have won an academy award. (And youngest, at 21).
Maitlin attended a synagogue for the Deaf and after studying Hebrew phonetically, was able to learn her Torah portion for her Bat Mitzvah.
American actress, author and activist. She is the only deaf performer to have won an academy award. (And youngest, at 21).
Maitlin attended a synagogue for the Deaf and after studying Hebrew phonetically, was able to learn her Torah portion for her Bat Mitzvah.
Dorothy 'Dot' Miles
She was a poet and deaf activist. She composed poems in English, BSL and ASL. Her work laid the foundations for modern sign language poetry and is the pioneer of BSL poetry. Her language school teaches BSL to schools, scouts, brownies and in the workplace.
She was a poet and deaf activist. She composed poems in English, BSL and ASL. Her work laid the foundations for modern sign language poetry and is the pioneer of BSL poetry. Her language school teaches BSL to schools, scouts, brownies and in the workplace.
Marie Jean Philip
She was a leader in the Deaf community, advocating for the right to a natural sign language for Deaf people.She was one of the original researchers studying ASL and Deaf Culture,&was active in establishing ASL as a recognised language in Massachusetts colleges.
She was a leader in the Deaf community, advocating for the right to a natural sign language for Deaf people.She was one of the original researchers studying ASL and Deaf Culture,&was active in establishing ASL as a recognised language in Massachusetts colleges.
The Silent Wrestler
Louis Long is an American pro wrestler who competed in Japanese and international promotions under the ring name The Silent Wrestler. He has become a benefactor to the deaf wrestling community, creating the Deaf Wrestling Alliance.
Louis Long is an American pro wrestler who competed in Japanese and international promotions under the ring name The Silent Wrestler. He has become a benefactor to the deaf wrestling community, creating the Deaf Wrestling Alliance.
George William Veditz
He was a former president of the National Association of the Deaf in the US and the first to film ASL.He saw ASL being threatened by the advancement of oralist proposals in schools. As cinema gained popularity,he gathered money to finance recordings of ASL.
He was a former president of the National Association of the Deaf in the US and the first to film ASL.He saw ASL being threatened by the advancement of oralist proposals in schools. As cinema gained popularity,he gathered money to finance recordings of ASL.
Heidi Zimmer
An American deaf mountaineer and the first deaf woman in history to reach the top of Mt. McKinley in 1991. At the top, she unfolded a banner reading "DEAF WOMAN, A PARADE THROUGH THE DECADES."
An American deaf mountaineer and the first deaf woman in history to reach the top of Mt. McKinley in 1991. At the top, she unfolded a banner reading "DEAF WOMAN, A PARADE THROUGH THE DECADES."
Alexandria Wailes
She is an American deaf actress, dancer, director and educator. She uses the languages of English and ASL and is known for her work with Deaf West Theatre. She performed the national anthem and "America the Beautiful" at the super bowl in ASL.
She is an American deaf actress, dancer, director and educator. She uses the languages of English and ASL and is known for her work with Deaf West Theatre. She performed the national anthem and "America the Beautiful" at the super bowl in ASL.
Bruce Willis
He's partially deaf!
He's partially deaf!
Halle Berry
Has acquired unilateral hearing loss.
Has acquired unilateral hearing loss.
Adam Savage
Wears hearing aids in both ears due to congenital otosclerosis.
(One of my faves, a very cool guy!)
Wears hearing aids in both ears due to congenital otosclerosis.
(One of my faves, a very cool guy!)
Juliette Gordon Low
The founder of the Girl Scouts of America
The founder of the Girl Scouts of America
Rob Lowe
Completely deaf in one ear.
Completely deaf in one ear.
Danny Elfman
American composer, has hearing loss.
American composer, has hearing loss.
Brian Johnson
From AC/DC, has hearing problems.
From AC/DC, has hearing problems.
David Hockney
British painter and wears hearing aids.
British painter and wears hearing aids.
