Famous ASL Users

Below is a list I’ve compiled of some famous deaf people you may have heard of. I have written some information about those people.

 

Alexander Graham Bell: 

Most of you probably know of Alexander Graham Bell. If you haven’t heard of him, he was a big part of history as an inventor. He invented something that is widely used today, the telephone. But what many people don’t know is that he was also a teacher for the deaf. The reason he was a teacher for the deaf, was largely influenced by his mother (who was deaf) as well as his father (who created the program Visible Speech). Alexander wanted to reduce the number of deaf people as much as possible. He did this by discouraging marriage between deaf people, as well as other methods (“Famous Deaf People.”). Although his methods seemed very dark, he is well-known in the deaf community and has changed the way most see deaf people.

Sean Berdy:

Some of you may know who Sean Berdy is, better known as Sammy “Fingers” Samuelson from The Sandlot 2. Sean Berdy is an actor, comedian, producer, and writer. He is well-known for his role in Switched at Birth as Emmett. Berdy is very active in spreading awareness to the deaf community. He even won the title of Mr. Deaf America in the year 2010 (How to Succeed in Class). This fame has allowed him to travel around the world to spread awareness of the deaf community to others.

Ludwig Van Beethoven:

Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the best composers of all time. And what most people don’t know is that he was deaf for the last portion of his life. He composed some of the most famous music in the world, and some of that music was created while he was deaf. It goes without saying that Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the most influential people of all time, let alone one of the most influential in the deaf community.

“Famous Deaf People.” Start ASL, 13 Apr. 2018, http://www.startasl.com/famous-deaf-people.

How to Succeed in Class, utminers.utep.edu/adjohnson3/thefuncorner/deafandfamous.htm.