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Governor Hogan Proclaims April as Deaf History Month in Maryland

For immediate release:
April 1, 2022
Contact: Payal Sharmacharya, Payal.Sharmacharya@Maryland.gov

(443) 453 5871

PRESS RELEASE 

Governor Hogan Proclaims April as Deaf History Month in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD— Governor Larry Hogan today issued a proclamation recognizing April as Deaf History Month in Maryland. The proclamation coincides with National Deaf History Month, which is celebrated every April to honor the contributions of our Deaf community, including numerous Deaf-run civil rights organizations, renowned educational programs and institutions, and the community’s resolute commitment to ensuring accessibility for all.

“Our communities are stronger when everyone is included. We believe in a Maryland that recognizes the unlimited potential for all our citizens, including those who are Deaf and hard of hearing, to live, work, and thrive in our communities,” said Governor Hogan. “By celebrating National Deaf History Month, we are honoring the contributions made for and by the Deaf and hard of hearing community since the early days of our nation.”

“Deaf individuals, organizations, and the community as a whole give us many reasons to honor those who have made tidal waves of change,” said Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Director Kelby Brick. “We encourage continued education for the citizens of Maryland about the rights, values, and contributions of Deaf and hard of hearing citizens, today and every day.”  

The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GODHH), now in its 20th year of service, promotes equal and full access for all Marylanders by advocating for the general welfare of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. The office works to create and refine policy, provide expertise related to Deaf and hard of hearing issues, and to facilitate access to resources, services, and opportunities for participation in all aspects of community life.

Maryland is home to the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), which is the oldest civil rights organization in the nation. Other Maryland-based organizations serving Deaf and hard of hearing individuals include Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc., more commonly known as TDI, and the Maryland Association of the Deaf (MDAD), which this year celebrates 65 years of activism in improving the lives of the Deaf and hard of hearing in the state. 

Maryland is also a premier state for Deaf education. The Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) has long been considered a flagship of national Deaf education. Established in Frederick in 1868, MSD provides free academic and life-based education to Deaf and hard of hearing Marylanders. A second MSD campus opened in Columbia in 1973.

Notable Deaf Marylanders in history include:

George Veditz

Raised in Baltimore, Veditz was an early modern leader. As president of NAD in 1908, he lobbied with support from members of the Deaf community to persuade the Roosevelt administration to repeal a ban on hiring Deaf people who wanted to apply for civil service. He also persuaded President Taft in 1909 to release a listing of jobs available to Deaf applicants. In 1913, during the peak of the silent movie era, he was among the first to use film to explain the importance of preserving American Sign Language (ASL). In his later years, Veditz founded the Maryland chapter of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association and the Colorado Association of the Deaf.

Gertrude Galloway

Gertrude Galloway was the first Deaf woman president of the National Association of the Deaf; first Deaf woman superintendent of the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf and first Deaf woman president of the Conference of the Educational Administrations of the Schools and Programs for the Deaf. Galloway’s education took root in Maryland at Western Maryland College, now known as McDaniel College. She taught math at MSD in Frederick and later became assistant principal at MSD’s Columbia campus. Galloway was vice president and president of MDAD, vice president of the Gallaudet College Alumni Association and president of the Maryland Chapter of the Gallaudet College Alumni Association. She also served as chair of the National Commission on Equal Education Opportunities for Deaf Children. A plaque in her honor is affixed to GODHH’s conference room.  

Ernest Hairston

One of the first Black Deaf teachers of the Deaf in North Carolina, Hairston also served as Associate Division Director, Chief of the Captioning and Adaptation Branch, and in other offices within the U.S. Department of Education, in addition to being a founding member of National Black Deaf Advocates and MSD board member. In 2012, he and his wife founded the High Bridge Foundation “to promote the well-being of young people from underserved populations, including new immigrants, adoptees, disabled persons and those in need of financial help to pursue higher education.” A plaque in his honor is affixed to GODHH’s main office suite.  

For more information about GODHH, visit odhh.maryland.gov.

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About the Governor’s Office of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

The Governor’s Office of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing serves as a coordinating office that advises the governor on issues related to the Deaf and hard of hearing population. The office advocates for and promotes equal access and the general welfare of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in Maryland by addressing policy gaps, providing expertise, and facilitating access to resources. Learn more by visiting our website at odhh.maryland.gov and connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

The State of Maryland (state seal) Proclamation From the Governor of the State of Maryland NATIONAL DEAF HISTORY MONTH April 1 - 30, 2022 WHEREAS, Maryland has a large and vibrant Deaf and hard of hearing community; and WHEREAS, it is important that we as Marylanders work together to ensure that those who are Deaf and hard of hearing have equal and full access to resources, services and opportunities for participation in all aspects of community life; and WHEREAS, We believe in a Maryland which recognizes the unlimited potential for all our citizens, including those who are Deaf and hard of hearing, to live, work, and thrive in our communities, and honor the contributions made for and by the Deaf and hard of hearing community over the last 200 years; and WHEREAS, Maryland is home to the oldest civil rights organization in the nation, the National Association of the Deaf, as well as numerous other national and state organizations serving Deaf and hard of hearing individuals such as the Hearing Loss Association of America, the Maryland Association of the Deaf. Maryland encourages continued education for the citizens of Maryland about the rights, values, and contributions of Deaf and hard of hearing citizens, and WHEREAS, the State takes necessary action to support the Deaf and hard of hearing community as evidenced by the recognition of the State’s top performance in equitable access to services during COVID-19 pandemic by the Health Signs Center’s nationwide survey and the twentieth anniversary of Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and WHEREAS, for the last 32 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act has sought to ensure that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are respected as equal citizens with equal opportunities to access inclusive education, achieve gainful employment and fully participate in the recreational, leisure and social activities of our communities, all free from discrimination; and WHEREAS, individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing are respected and valued members of Maryland’s communities and serve as teachers educating our children, brewmasters producing beer, business owners serving customers, and nurses helping our sick and everyday citizens, sharing their experiences, perspectives and abilities in furtherance of the Deaf Ecosystem; Now therefore, I, Larry Hogan, Governor of the State of Maryland, do hereby proclaim April 1 - 30, 2022 as the National Deaf History Month in Maryland and recognize our communities are stronger when everyone participates. We do commend this observance to all of our citizens and encourage them to participate and promote events throughout the month which celebrates the rights and achievements of Deaf and hard of hearing communities.
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