Deaf History Month

Deaf History Month is an American commemoration held annually originally between March 13 and April 15, but in later decades just in the month of April. It recognizes the role of deaf people in America’s history and key events that have affected the deaf community. Since its origin in 1996 and first celebration in 1997, Deaf History Month has provided an opportunity to celebrate those who have played a role in improving life for deaf people. It is also a time for drawing attention to the accomplishments of people in the deaf community as well as the challenges faced by those with hearing loss. The commemoration has strong support from American libraries and associations, as well as from the National Association of the Deaf.

Background

On March 13, 1988, I. King Jordan was appointed as the first deaf president of Gallaudet University, a university for the deaf and hard of hearing, founded in 1864. Eight years later, two deaf employees working at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, celebrated the anniversary of this important event by teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to their coworkers. Sign language is a method of communication used by individuals with hearing impairments, in which hand positions and gestures are used to convey words, letters, and thoughts. This employee initiative inspired the library’s management to plan Deaf Awareness Week. Soon after, the National Association of the Deaf proposed an annual month-long commemoration of Deaf History Month.

Most annual commemorations run from the first day to the last day of a calendar month. For example, Deaf Awareness Month focuses on the challenges faced by individuals with deafness or hearing loss, as well as educational efforts on the causes of deafness. It's held annually in September. Deaf History Month, however, runs from March 13 to April 15 each year. The organizers chose these dates intentionally to recognize three key events in deaf history.

March 13 was chosen as the start date because it was the day Jordan was appointed to lead Gallaudet University. While the university was named for Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a trailblazing educator for the deaf, it was founded as the Columbia Institute for the Instruction of the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind and renamed to honor Gallaudet in 1894. The school was the first American institute of higher learning for those who were deaf or hearing impaired. Its charter was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on April 8, 1864, another of the key events commemorated during Deaf History Month.

Jordan’s appointment was especially important to the deaf community because of how it came about. In early March 1988, Gallaudet’s university board chose a different candidate to serve as the school’s new president. This candidate was not deaf, while Jordan and the other candidate were. The university’s students protested by chaining the school’s gates shut. This protest, which came to be known as “Deaf President Now,” led to the board overturning its original decision and appointing Jordan. In addition to Jordan becoming the university’s first deaf president, the protest that led to his appointment became an important milestone for deaf rights, disabled rights, and civil rights overall.

Deaf History Month ends on April 15 to commemorate that date in 1817 when the American School for the Deaf opened in Connecticut. Founded by Gallaudet as well as Mason Cogswell and Laurent Clerc, the American School was the first educational institution for the deaf in the United States. It was also the first school anywhere in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to educating those with any disability. It became a model for similar schools all around the world. Many teachers who had been educated there went on to teach in other programs for the deaf.

While Deaf History Month was celebrated for decades between these dates, in 2022, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) announced a change to the celebration and moved the dates to encompass the month of April. The decision was made by the NAD Board and was part of their effort to make changes that work to dismantle racism within the deaf community and recognize the historical experiences of BIPOC Deaf People, along with the experiences of the White deaf community. Traditionally, history focused only on the experiences of the White deaf community, despite deafness affecting people across the spectrum.

Overview

The annual commemoration of Deaf History Month began in a library and received much of its early momentum from libraries as well. It was backed from the beginning by the American Library Association (ALA). It was also supported Alice Hagemeter, a librarian at the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL). Hagemeyer, who was America’s first deaf librarian, started working at DCPL shortly after graduating from Gallaudet University in 1957. During her thirty-plus years at DCPL, she played an active role in promoting the rights, needs, and accomplishments of the deaf community. She also supported numerous programs to make it easier for the deaf or hearing impaired to access library services and resources, as well as increasing the resources available to them. In 1986, Hagemayer established Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action (FOLDA), which became part of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) in 1994. Both groups promote and participate in Deaf History Month.

In 2006, the ALA and NAD joined forces to formally promote Deaf History Month. Hagemayer played a key role in initiating this partnership. Together, the two groups encourage the commemoration of Deaf History Month by libraries, schools, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. They have also campaigned to have Deaf History Month included among the official US commemorative observation events.

To celebrate the month, libraries and other organizations often hold educational opportunities to learn about important events in deaf history. In addition to teaching people about the three key events commemorated by Deaf History Month, information about developments such as hearing aids and other technology that aid those with hearing problems is often presented, along with information about causes and treatments of hearing loss. Informational sessions about the challenges of the deaf and hearing-impaired are common. Classes to learn sign language are also popular events during Deaf History Month.

Bibliography

“Celebrate Deaf History Month: March 13-April 15.” National Association of the Deaf, www.nad.org/2012/03/16/celebrate-deaf-history-month-march-13-april-15-2012/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“Deaf History Month Fun Facts.” Salus University Pennsylvania Ear Institute, www.salusuhealth.com/Pennsylvania-Ear-Institute/Events/News-Stories/Deaf-History-Month-Fun-Facts.aspx. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“History & Cogswell Heritage House.” American School for the Deaf, www.asd-1817.org/about/history--cogswell-heritage-house. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“History of Gallaudet University.” Gallaudet University, www.gallaudet.edu/about/history-and-traditions. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

“National Deaf History Month.” Insight into Diversity, 17 March 2020, www.insightintodiversity.com/national-deaf-history-month/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

"National Deaf History Month Dates." National Association of the Deaf, 31 Jan. 2022, www.nad.org/2022/01/31/national-deaf-history-month-dates/. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025. 

Perry, David M. “How 'Deaf President Now' Changed America.” Pacific Standard, 12 April 2018, psmag.com/education/how-deaf-president-now-changed-america. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

"Spotlight: What Is Deaf History Month?" Mixcord, Inc., 2 Apr. 2023, www.mixcord.co/blogs/content-creators/national-deaf-history-month. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.