Founders & Firsts
First African American Deaf person to get a Bachelor's Degree from Gallaudet. Also established over 30 deaf schools in Africa.
Who is Andrew Jackson Foster?
First Deaf women to win an Oscar / Academy Award. She was also apart of the award-winning cast of 'CODA' and has been an advocate for the Deaf Community.
Who is Marlee Matlin?
The first deaf Major League baseball player. Credited with creating the "signs" used in Major League Baseball today.
Who is William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy?
Deaf "rapper" and founder of D-PAN, the Deaf Performing Arts Network
Who is Sean Forbes?
The first Miss America that was Deaf. She is also an author and got a cochlear implant when she was an adult.
Who is Heather Whitestone?
First President of Gallaudet University with a profound hearing loss, chosen right after the Deaf President Now movement.
Who is I. King Jordan?
The actress who played Sue Thomas on "Sue Thomas, F.B. Eye".
Who is Deanne Bray?
The first deaf National Football League (NFL) player. He was in a Duracell commercial and won a Superbowl playing for the Seattle Seahawks.
Who is Derrick Coleman?
Famous Deaf storyteller and performing artist who started the "Flying Words Project" and is currently a Professor of ASL Lit at Columbia College.
Who is Peter Cook?
The young girl who lived next door to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet who inspired him to create ASL.
Who is Alice Cogswell?
First Deaf person to win "America's Next Top Model" and "Dancing with the Stars"
Who is Nyle DiMarco?
Actor on "Switched at Birth" who was also in the movies "Sandlot 2" and "Legend of the Mountain Man"
Who is Sean Berdy?
Known as "the fastest woman in the world" who was a stuntwoman and racer who previously had a career in diving.
Who is Kitty O'Neil?
A Deaf actor and painter who is credited with creating the De'Via movement.
He also was in "The Legend of the Mountain Man"
Who is Chuck Baird?
French man who taught Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet French Sign Language.
With Gallaudet he created ASL and established the first school for the Deaf in the United States.
Who is Laurent Clerc?
First Deaf F.B.I. agent, she was very skilled at lip reading and had a TV show made about her experiences at the F.B.I.
Who is Sue Thomas?
The young Deaf actress and advocate who starred in "Wonderstruck" and "A Quiet Place."
Who is Millicent Simmonds?
Famous Deaf baseball player from the MLB who is currently the head baseball coach at Gallaudet University.
Who is Curtis Pride?
Famous De'VIA artist who creates art for Deaf children using bold, primary colors.
Who is Nancy Rourke?
Founder of National Theatre of the Deaf. Also an actor and mime. He was in "And Your Name is Jonah."
Who is Bernard Bragg?
This woman played the first Deaf superhero in the MCU. She has also been in in many movies and T.V. shows, including The Walking Dead.
Who is Lauren Ridloff?
African American comedian and playwright who was in "Baby Driver" and "See What I'm Saying".
Who is C.J. Jones?
The deaf person whose life story is told in the movie "The Hammer." He is an NCAA champion wrestler and is a retired UFC fighter.
Who is Matt Hamill?
Famous African-American rapper who performed at the first ever halftime performance at the Super Bowl 2022.
Who is Warren "Wawa" Snipe?
First Deaf Female Championship Motorcross Racer
Who is Ashley Fiolek?