Ahmed Alamri
California State University, Fresno
Abstract
This research paper sought out to understand the roots of history and how our past has shaped our today referring to the hard of hearing community. Exploring the historical period of the 19th century where stakes were high regarding the hard of hearing community, all the way into present time where these individuals are still facing struggles and adaptations are just as evident but presented in a different light.
Yesterday and Today: Shaping the Hard of Hearing
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.(“Brainy Quote)” -Confucious. The unique heritage of hard of hearing culture is very affluent and astonishing. Understanding the desires of others wanting to learn about the history behind the hearing impaired will come across critical events like the “Deaf President Now” movement that essentially granted Gallaudet University its first ever deaf president, learn about the expansion of personal hearing assistive technology past and present, read about the vicious segregation in schools for the deaf, and learn about the thousands of historical figures that were hard of hearing.
History will always tell a tale and never ceases to prove to us that turbulent events, such as DPN, only occur behind the grounds of good reason. Many would argue that the American Revolution and our very own nation's Civil Rights Movement, just so happen to be the result of many years of upstanding frustration and oppression on the part of people who were misunderstood, mistreated, underestimated, and undeniably ignored.(“Deaf Heritage”). Yet again, history always repeats itself, it is evident that the oppressed reach a point where they have had enough and realize that their conditions will only change if they finally take matters into their own hands and protest. Although the United States believed enough of the hard of