Woman using the Portable Acousticon, as illustrated in: Evan Yellon’s Surdus in search of his hearing: an exposure of aural quacks and a guide to genuine treatments and remedies electrical aids, lip-reading and employments for the deaf etc., etc. London: Celtic Press, 1906 (p. 48). This small type Acousticon was intended to be carried about by the user, with the receiver attached to some part of the clothing, the battery into a pocket or handbag and the ear-piece carried in the hand or attached to a lorgnette handle.
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1817: The American School for the Deaf was founded in Hartford, Connecticut. This was the first school for children with special needs anywhere in the western hemisphere.
1857: The Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind (known today as Gallaudet University) opened.
1872: Alexander Graham Bell promotes deaf education and opens a school in 1872 for deaf people. He also howevers encourages Oralism.
1880: National Association of the Deaf (United States) established.
1892: Electrical hearing aid invented.
1896: The first woman (Julia Foley) was elected to the board of the United States National Association of the Deaf.
1960: William Stokoe wrote the first linguistic book and defense of American Sign Language as a language.
1964: Women members of the United States National Association of the Deaf were first allowed to vote.
1990: Americans with Disabilities Act passed.
