Gallaudet University, named in honor of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, is the first school in the world that operated for the purpose of educating those who are deaf and hard of hearing. It is located in Washington, D.C. It opened its doors in 1864. Today, it remains as the only university in the world in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. Many presidents visited and spoke at the school beginning with Ulysses S. Grant in 1870, and ending with President Clinton in 1994.
In 1988, the students at Gallaudet University made national news when they protested the hiring of yet another hearing president. After a week of protesting, the candidate nominated to be the new president resigned. She was replaced by a deaf man named I. King Jordan, who served as president until December 31, 2006. The protest became known across America as Deaf President Now.
I walked to the university with Paul from where we got off the train. Let me tell you how far it was and how hot the DC weather was. WOW! I am very glad I had the opportunity to visit Gallaudet and to be able to watch Paul’s face as he soaked up the atmosphere!