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National Deaf Life Museum
History
When Gallaudet University Football Invented the...
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In 1894, the Gallaudet football team was playing against another deaf team. Paul Hubbard, the quarterback, didn’t want to risk the other team seeing him use American Sign Language (ASL) to explain the play to his teammates, so he asked them to form a tight circle formation, now known as a huddle. Today, the huddle is used all over the world, in a wide variety of team sports, such as baseball, football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and many other sports.
For over 150 years, Gallaudet has provided a unique educational experience for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students. Graduates leave here, and change the game in education, government, business, science and human services, and so much more.
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Gallaudet invites all new deaf and hard of hearing students who don’t know ASL to attend JumpStart, our four-week summer immersion program that will get you ready to jump right into classes and life on campus. Register by July 1.
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The world’s only full interpretation program (B.A., M.A. and Ph.D.) in an American Sign Language-immersive environment.
Students from across the United States and more than 25 countries
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In 1856, Amos Kendall, a postmaster general during two presidential administrations, donated two acres of his estate in northeast Washington, D.C. to establish a school and housing for 12 deaf and six blind students. The following year, Kendall persuaded Congress to incorporate the new school,...
Resource Type: History