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The decision that sparked Deaf President Now
The “Chip Bill”, Closed Captioning, and what they did for the Deaf community
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Options in Education for the “least restrictive environment”
Invention of the cochlear implant fans flames of debate on both sides
How TTYs made telephones accessible to the Deaf
Desegregated Schools: Deaf students of color make the best of their new surroundings
Communications access: A boom in access for the hearing impaired
American Sign Language, a language recognized
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Awareness, Access and Change
Interpreting: Working our way through sporadic...
Before the founding of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf in 1964, sign language interpreting was primarily a volunteer effort. Parents, children, co-workers, and clergy helped as they could to convey information. Rarely did deaf people and the hearing people with whom they are talking have access to consistent quality interpreting. Confidentiality was also a concern.
The Registry’s work to make interpreting a profession has made this complex and physically demanding skill more accessible to all people.
Interpreting services have made it possible for deaf people to participate more fully in the political process, such as this public hearing.
Sign Language Associates
Interpreters also “voice” what deaf people are signing. Here an interpreter “voices” for reporters.
Gallaudet University Archives, Gift of Yoon Yee
Photographer: Yoon Yee
Participating in a session at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this deaf-blind visitor is using tactile, hand-on-hand, interpreting.
Gallaudet University Archives
Photograph by Virginia McCauley
An interpreter signs the words and conveys the emotion of a song. The presence of interpreters at events such as concerts and plays has made programs more accessible and made hearing people more aware of deaf audience members.
Interpreting: Working our way through sporadic access to interpreting as a profession