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Deaf History Month

What
Deaf History Month
When
4/16/2025



APRIL: National Deaf History Month

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) established NDHM in 1997. The original dates were March 13–April 15, which recognized key events in the history of the Deaf community: 

  • April 15, 1817: The opening of the American School for the Deaf, the first public school for the deaf 

  • April 8, 1864: The founding of Gallaudet University, the first institution to offer advanced education for the deaf and hard of hearing 

  • March 13, 1988: The appointment of Gallaudet University's first deaf president 



The month was moved to April 1–30 to be more inclusive of all Deaf experiences, including those of marginalized communities. The NAD also wanted to ensure that the NDHM recognized all Deaf people in the U.S., especially BIPOC Deaf people. 


Some ways to celebrate NDHM include:


  • Attending deaf cultural events

  • Patronizing deaf-owned businesses

  • Celebrating the achievements of deaf artists and innovators

  • Promoting accessibility

  • Advocating for inclusivity

  • Championing initiatives like captioning and sign language interpretation

  • Standing up against discrimination

  • Challenging stereotypes

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