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http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=12&screen=news&news_id=48160
One of the greatest misunderstandings deaf people say they face is that people think they are stupid.
“Whenever I write a note to (a hearing person) and it doesn’t come out in perfect English, they assume I am dumb, when I am just as intelligent as everyone else,” said Lloyd Billingsley, a retired machine operator who worked for The Tennessean for 32 years.
Billingsley’s language, American Sign Language (ASL), is visual and recognized as a foreign language with its own grammar and rules. The misconception is that ASL is “English on the hands” and translates word-for-word into English.
Such a lesson is what Billingsley hopes people learn from the History Through Deaf Eyes exhibit, which opens Friday at the Nashville Public Library main branch.
The social history exhibit is depicted through panels and features memorabilia, artifacts and photos that give insight into the evolution of the education and culture of people who are deaf.
According to Jack Gannon, the exhibit’s curator, items include instruments used to teach speech and test hearing (from the vintage ear horn to modern digital communication devices); art made by members of the deaf community; sports memorabilia; tools used to teach deaf people vocations; and technology used to integrate deaf people into society.
“We have been called deaf-mutes, mutes, objects of charity, deaf and dumb, semi-mutes, dummy, and now hearing impaired. We have been described as ‘the most misunderstood among the sons of man.’ Some of us use American Sign Language and some of us do not. This exhibit is our untold and largely unknown history. It is American history — through deaf eyes,” he added.
The exhibit was developed by Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., which was founded in 1864 and is the world’s only higher education school designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It contains pieces contributed locally from the Tennessee School for the Deaf and the Tennessee School for the Deaf Museum.
Gallaudet University’s President I. King Jordan, the first deaf man to hold the position, will kick off the exhibit, which coincides with Deaf History Month, with a lecture at 4 p.m. at the library.
With the untraditional middle-of-the-month start date of March 13, Deaf History Month intentionally runs to April 15 to encompass the period of three historical events. March 13, 1988 marked the success of the “Deaf President Now” movement in which Gallaudet student protests led to Jordan’s appointment. Gallaudet was founded April 8, 1864. The first public school for the deaf — American School for the Deaf — opened April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Conn.
Just as people study Black History Month, Billingsley said his culture’s history is important to learn.
“We see news history every day in the news, but that’s ‘hearing’ history. I think a lot of people will be surprised when they learn about the deaf history and more importantly to know there is a deaf history, that alone is a wonderful experience for the ‘hearing’ community,” Billingsley said.
Who: I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University
What: Lecture to kick off History Through Deaf Eyes exhibit
When: Reception and lecture: 3-5 p.m. Friday; Exhibit: Friday through April 17
Where: Nashville Public Library main branch, 615 Church St.
Cost: Free and open to the public
Info: 862-5750, library.nashville.gov
One of the greatest misunderstandings deaf people say they face is that people think they are stupid.
“Whenever I write a note to (a hearing person) and it doesn’t come out in perfect English, they assume I am dumb, when I am just as intelligent as everyone else,” said Lloyd Billingsley, a retired machine operator who worked for The Tennessean for 32 years.
Billingsley’s language, American Sign Language (ASL), is visual and recognized as a foreign language with its own grammar and rules. The misconception is that ASL is “English on the hands” and translates word-for-word into English.
Such a lesson is what Billingsley hopes people learn from the History Through Deaf Eyes exhibit, which opens Friday at the Nashville Public Library main branch.
The social history exhibit is depicted through panels and features memorabilia, artifacts and photos that give insight into the evolution of the education and culture of people who are deaf.
According to Jack Gannon, the exhibit’s curator, items include instruments used to teach speech and test hearing (from the vintage ear horn to modern digital communication devices); art made by members of the deaf community; sports memorabilia; tools used to teach deaf people vocations; and technology used to integrate deaf people into society.
“We have been called deaf-mutes, mutes, objects of charity, deaf and dumb, semi-mutes, dummy, and now hearing impaired. We have been described as ‘the most misunderstood among the sons of man.’ Some of us use American Sign Language and some of us do not. This exhibit is our untold and largely unknown history. It is American history — through deaf eyes,” he added.
The exhibit was developed by Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., which was founded in 1864 and is the world’s only higher education school designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. It contains pieces contributed locally from the Tennessee School for the Deaf and the Tennessee School for the Deaf Museum.
Gallaudet University’s President I. King Jordan, the first deaf man to hold the position, will kick off the exhibit, which coincides with Deaf History Month, with a lecture at 4 p.m. at the library.
With the untraditional middle-of-the-month start date of March 13, Deaf History Month intentionally runs to April 15 to encompass the period of three historical events. March 13, 1988 marked the success of the “Deaf President Now” movement in which Gallaudet student protests led to Jordan’s appointment. Gallaudet was founded April 8, 1864. The first public school for the deaf — American School for the Deaf — opened April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Conn.
Just as people study Black History Month, Billingsley said his culture’s history is important to learn.
“We see news history every day in the news, but that’s ‘hearing’ history. I think a lot of people will be surprised when they learn about the deaf history and more importantly to know there is a deaf history, that alone is a wonderful experience for the ‘hearing’ community,” Billingsley said.
Who: I. King Jordan, president of Gallaudet University
What: Lecture to kick off History Through Deaf Eyes exhibit
When: Reception and lecture: 3-5 p.m. Friday; Exhibit: Friday through April 17
Where: Nashville Public Library main branch, 615 Church St.
Cost: Free and open to the public
Info: 862-5750, library.nashville.gov
