When most people think of Washington, D.C., they probably think of politics and monuments. But the nation’s capital is also home to the world’s first, and only, college created specifically for deaf students — Gallaudet University.
For more than 160 years, Gallaudet has been at the center of Deaf culture. From expanding educational opportunities to helping fuel the disability rights movement, the university has played an important role in shaping a more accessible society.
How Gallaudet Began
The roots of Gallaudet University go back to the 1850s. At the time, many Deaf and blind children had little access to education. Philanthropist Amos Kendall saw that need and helped create a school in Washington, D.C.
In 1857, Congress officially chartered the institution as the “Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind”. (The term “deaf and dumb” was commonly used at the time but is now outdated and does not reflect how Deaf people are described today.) The school was led by Edward Miner Gallaudet, whose father, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, had helped establish one of the first schools for Deaf students in the United States.
As the school grew, leaders pushed for opportunities beyond elementary education. Their efforts paid off in 1864 when President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation allowing the institution to grant college degrees. It became the first college in the world created specifically for Deaf students.
Over time, the school evolved into Gallaudet College and eventually became Gallaudet University in 1986.
A Home for Deaf Culture
At the time when many Deaf people face barriers in education and public life, Gallaudet created a space where communication and accessibility were at the center for everything. The university also helped advance the study of American Sign Language and preserve Deaf history for future generations.
For many students, Gallaudet was one of the first places where they were surrounded by others who shared similar experiences. That sense of community helped shape generations of Deaf leaders.
Protest for Deaf President
One of the most important moments in Gallaudet’s history came in 1988.
Despite serving Deaf students for more than a century, the university had never had a Deaf president. When the board selected another hearing candidate over two Deaf candidates to lead the institution, students, faculty, staff and alumni organized a protest known as Deaf President Now.
For eight days, protesters shut down campus operations and demanded change and argued that Deaf people were fully capable of leading their own institution.
The movement succeeded. The selected candidate resigned and I. King Jordan became Gallaudet's first Deaf president.
But the impact went far beyond the university. Many disability rights leaders view the protest as an important moment that helped build momentum for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law just two years later.
Why Gallaudet Matters Today
Gallaudet’s story is about more than higher education. For generations, it has given Deaf students a place to learn, build community and develop their voices as leaders.
That community has helped students and alumni challenge assumptions about what Deaf people can do and who can lead. The 1988 Deaf President Now protest is one powerful example of what can happen when people come together to demand change.
Today, Gallaudet continues to educate future leaders and preserve Deaf history while creating opportunities for students to shape what comes next.
This article includes information from Gallaudet University.
