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Since the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement in 1988, its legacy has lived on through the memories of Deaf community members and disability rights activists.  Now, almost 40 years later, the story of DPN will finally be shared on a global scale.

Deaf President Now!, a documentary chronicling the eight days of DPN, premieres on Apple TV+ on May 16, 2025. The film is co-directed by Gallaudet alum Nyle DiMarco, ’13, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim of Concordia Studios.

Following a world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, Deaf President Now! has received rave reviews from publications like Variety and the Hollywood Reporter. At Sundance, it was a runner-up for the Festival Favorite Award.

Gallaudet University is proud to have supported Deaf President Now! through a collaboration with the Gallaudet Archives staff, who shared archival footage and materials with the filmmakers. DPN is our history, and we can’t wait for the world to see it.

Learn more about Deaf President Now! and DPN

A black-and-white photo from the Deaf President Now protests in 1988. A group of protesters march down a street. One in the middle has a large, tall white sign.

Deaf President Now

Learn about the Deaf President Now protests, and meet the DPN4, four students who became the face of the protests.

A photo of the DPN4 in April 2025. From left to right: Tim Rarus, Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourn-Firl, and Jerry Covell.

Gallaudet hosts Deaf President Now! film screening

On April 11, 2025, Gallaudet hosted a special screening of Deaf President Now! for our students, faculty, and staff. We were joined by Co-Directors DiMarco and Guggenheim, as well as more special guests. Check out the article to see pictures from the event.

A photo of Gallaudet Archives Director Jim McCarthy, smiling in a library. He holds a photo of the DPN4 during the Deaf President Now movement in 1988.

How the Gallaudet Archives assisted the Deaf President Now! documentary

Almost all of the archival footage in Deaf President Now! came from the Gallaudet Archives library. Learn how the Archives partnered with the filmmakers to make the documentary come to life.

A photo of students standing on the balcony of an ornate stone building, with a banner over the railing that reads, "Deaf President Now".

DPN memories: Faculty and staff share their experiences from 1988

The Deaf President Now protests included hundreds of Gallaudet students, staff, and faculty. Some of them are still with the university today! They shared their lasting memories of DPN.

A black-and-white photo of marchers in Washington, DC. In the foreground are Judy Heumann (left) and former Gallaudet President I. King Jordan (right).

New documentary highlights Gallaudet’s role in the fight for the Americans with Disabilities Act

The Deaf President Now movement happened two years before the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. Since then, disability rights activists have acknowledged the importance that DPN played in the eventual passage of the ADA.


Deaf President Now! premieres on Apple TV+ on May 16.

Gallaudet now has a fund that supports DPN’s memory! You can donate to the Judith Rasmus Bravin and Philip William Bravin Deaf President Now (DPN) Legacy Fund to help Gallaudet ensure that future generations keep learning about the impact of DPN.

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