February 8, 2019
Deaf Culture Fun Fact: Alexander Graham Bell is famous for his invention of the telephone. However, did you know that the telephone was a “mistake”? He was actually trying to create a hearing aid for his deaf wife and mother. Before being an inventor, Alexander Graham Bell was an instructor for deaf children. He was adamantly opposed to and fought against a deaf person’s right to use sign language, attend school with, or marry other deaf people. He sought out ways to “fix” deaf people and never accepted them as a unique cultural group with their own language, customs and experiences. Because of this, Alexander Graham Bell is seen somewhat as a “villain” in Deaf Culture.
~ Janet Dicker DHH Teacher