04/24/2026
To honor National Deaf History Month, let’s discuss a very important piece of Deaf History!
In 1988, Gallaudet University, the world’s leading institution for the deaf and hard of hearing, had never seen a deaf president represent their school. In March of that year, the Deaf President Now Movement, led by four Gallaudet students, erupted. Hundreds of students, staff, and faculty members came to protest and demand that a deaf president be appointed at the college. This movement served as an incredible demand for representation and self-determination for the Deaf community and led to the appointment of the university’s first deaf president, Dr. I King Jordan.
Photo from Gallaudet University