Famous Deaf People

*Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Beethoven was a famous composer and musician. Although
he wasn't born deaf, he lost his hearing ability at an early
age. It is said, after his first public performance of his ninth
symphony he cried when he was turned around in order to
see the audience's response to the music. His musical
talent was recognized early on. He had the opportunity to
meet Mozart in 1787 and had wanted to study under him in
1796, but could not do so. Instead, he studied under Joseph
Haydn instead. Beethoven went on to live a full life as
composer and musician.

*William Willard (1809-1881)

William Willard was born in Battleboro, VT, and after he
married a young deaf teacher, (he also being deaf), they
moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. Together, they set up a
school for the deaf. He had the previous approvals from the
state officials, that helped him lay foundation of the
Indianapolis School for the Deaf in 1843. This school was
officially recognized in 1846 and Indiana became the sixth
state to provide free education to the deaf.

*Laura Dewey Bridgman (1829-1889)

Laura Bridgman, was the first blind and deaf person to learn
the English language. She was born normal, but was hit with
a bout of Scarlet fever when she was two years old. This
ailment caused her to become a blind deaf-mute, just like
Helen Keller years later. She entered the Perkins School for
the Deaf and Blind in 1837. Dr. Howe, principal of the
school, taught her how to recognize everyday items such as
knives and spoons by assisting her to associate them with
labels with the raise letters spelling "knife" or "spoon" and
later teaching her to recognize the items without the labels.
This eventually end up teaching her how to spell the various
words that she had learned using the above method. This
makes her one of the famous deaf-mute people.

Dr. Frank G. Bowe (1947-August 21, 2007)

He was a distinguished professor at Hofstra University and
has accomplished much as a disability rights activist,
teacher and author. He was the first to represent specially
abled people at the UN when they planned the IYDP in 1981.
Dr. Bowe headed many organizations that assists both deaf
and differently abled people. He wrote "Handicapping
America" which points out various ways that we have
handicapped people with disability instead of helping them.
His name features in many 'Who's Who' publications, such
as Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in Education and
many others. He has received multiple awards for his
contributions towards the specially abled.

*Linda Bove (November 30, 1945)

Linda Bove, is a deaf American actress. She was born to
parents who were both deaf. She attended the St. Joseph
School for the Deaf in Bronx, New York. She graduated from
the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf in New Jersey.
She is known as Linda the Librarian on Sesame Street and
has made a huge contribution in introducing the sign
language to hearing children.

These people are some of those whose contributions have
shaped both the deaf world and the world in general. We
would not have great classical music, education for the deaf
and blind and the many other great contributions were it not
for these great people and their abilities.