KSD Has a Birthday
175 and Still Counting!
The mayor came, the Wild Zappers performed, and Harvey Corson, the first deaf superintendent welcomed hundreds of alumni and friends to the 175th anniversary of the Kentucky School for the Deaf (KSD). In 1823, KSD was the first state-supported school for deaf students and the first deaf school west of the Allegheny mountains. James Boirney, a hearing man who ran for president as an anti-slavery candidate in 1840 and 1844, was on the KSD board of trustees.

Today KSD cooperates with county and city to educate deaf students in hearing classrooms and bring hearing students to KSD classrooms. KSD's mission is the same: to prepare students for success in college, on the job, and throughout their lives.

Deaf History International
Bringing Deaf History Alive
Deaf History International, a group of deaf and hearing people from countries around the world, met last month in Norway to discuss the lives of outstanding deaf artists and scientists. Among the deaf individuals profiled were: Douglas Tilden, American sculptor, Albert Raty, a French artist, and Olaf Hansen, Norwegian astronomer. Ulf Hedberg, a Swedish national living in the United States, led the meetings. They were conducted in Geste Uno, an international system of signs and gestures that deaf people with different sign languages use to communicate with each other.

Bye Bye-NSD
Nebraska To Close Deaf School
This may the last year that students will attend the Nebraska School for the Deaf. Nebraska lawmakers have voted to close the school. The reasons given by the state are lack of students in the school and lack of money in the state budget. Parents, students, former students, and staff are upset, according Dr. Jerry Zenor, campus administrator. "It will be a sad day," he said.

'HI' To the World
Mississippi Makes New Tags
In Mississippi, drivers can get special license tags that show other drivers that they are deaf and hard of hearing. The tags are the same price as all tags. They do not entitle drivers to any special privileges--like parking in special places. They have an ear with a line through it and the words "Hearing Impaired." They are completely optional. Drivers could buy the new tags on or after October 1.

OOPS--Humor Every Day
-from Joanne Cripps, OCSD Bulletin, Official Newsletter of the Ontario Cultural Society of the Deaf
Linda went to get her hair cut. Her hair was medium length. The hairdresser asked her how much she wanted cut. Linda signed "about one inch." The hairdresser chopped off all of her hair, thinking she wanted one inch left on her head. Linda wanted one inch cut off instead. OOPS...She hid her hair with a bandanna.

A friend was impressed with the sign outside of Tim Horton's. The sign read "Smoke Free." He thought Tim Horton was real generous to give out free cigarettes!