Deaf History Month, Deaf Family Member

Published by Claudia Meydrech under Brothers,Historic Events on March 4, 2010

Deaf History Month means more, I suppose, to someone who is deaf or has a deaf family member, but should mean something to all of us, as none of us are guaranteed that we will hear well for the rest of our lives.  For our family it is significant, because my youngest brother is deaf, along with other disabilities, due to an illness in infancy.

The observance of Deaf History Month came to be due to some key events that took place in the time period it covers.  While many month-long observances cover a single month, this one spans two…the dates are from March 14th through April 15th.  The key events that took place that make that time period significant are:

• March 13 – On this date in 1988 the “Deaf President Now” movement succeeds, and Irving King Jordan becomes President of Gallaudet University.
• April 8 – On this date in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter establishing a college for the deaf, so April 8th became known as Gallaudet Charter Day in honor of the start the first University for the deaf, Gallaudet University.
• April 15 – On this date in 1817, the first public school for the deaf is opened, the “American School for the Deaf”

For me, memories of having a brother who is deaf are first and foremost in my mind when I hear “Deaf History Month”.  Along with being deaf, he has other disabilities as a result of having Spinal Meningitis when he was a baby, only 6 months old while we were on a family vacation.  The impact that a disabled family member has on a family is dramatic, and can take many twists and turns, but I will tell you that God has been faithful in providing for us, and for my brothers needs in the past and for the future.

When he was young, there were no programs for what was referred to as “multiply handicapped” children, so he didn’t fit in a deaf school because of his other disabilities.  There is much more support for families with disabled children now, and I hope it will continue to be something that our government will support, no matter how poor the economic outlook is.

I share more about my brother in my post “My Special Needs Brother“, visit if you like.