Reference 

Scheetz, N. A. (2012). Deaf education in the 21st century: Topics and trends (2nd ed.). Pearson Education.

Clerc Center. (n.d.). About Laurent Clerc. Gallaudet University. Retrieved from https://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu

Gannon, J. R. (1981). Deaf heritage: A narrative history of Deaf America. 

National Association of the Deaf.

American School for the Deaf. (n.d.). Our history. Retrieved from 

https://www.asd-1817.org/about/history

National Deaf Education Project. (2005). The National Agenda: Moving forward on achieving educational equality for Deaf and hard of hearing students. Retrieved from https://www.deafe

     Long ago in France, in 1785, a baby named Laurent Clerc was born.

     When he was one year old, he had an accident. He fell and hurt his head. After that, Laurent couldn’t hear or talk.

Some people thought he would never learn. But Laurent was very smart. He paid close attention and watched the world around him with curious eyes.

     When Laurent was 12, he went to a special school in Paris for Deaf children.

There, he saw something amazing—people talking with their hands! It was called French Sign Language.

     Laurent was so excited. He learned fast and loved using his hands to speak.

Soon, he was one of the best students in the school!

     Laurent worked hard and learned quickly. Before long, he became a teacher at the very same school. He helped other Deaf children learn and grow, just like he did.

     One day, a man named Thomas Gallaudet came from America. Laurent and Gallaudet became friends. They decided to travel to America together to help more children learn.

     In 1817, Laurent Clerc and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet founded the first school for Deaf children in America, located in Hartford, Connecticut.

     Laurent was the first Deaf teacher in America. He taught kids how to read, write, and sign. He also helped create American Sign Language (ASL), mixing French signs with new American ones.

     Laurent taught for over 50 years! His students became teachers too.

     Today, millions of people use ASL thanks to him. Laurent proved that being Deaf isn’t something to “fix.” It’s something to celebrate.

He gave Deaf people a voice with their hands.