This book is free while supplies last. It may be ordered from Jean L. Bergey, Office of the President, Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. NE, Washington, DC, 20002-3695; 202-651-5467 (Fax).

Through Deaf Eyes

 Free Material-Deaf History Booklet 

Gallaudet University has published a new book about deaf people and deaf history. History Through Deaf Eyes traces the history of the American deaf community. It shows the beginning of the education and the formation of the deaf community in the United States. The book also has many pictures. Photos show what life was like for deaf students from the 1800s.

In Indonesia

 New Groups of Signing Hearing People 

Two groups of people, the Vahudate and the Aukedate, in Indonesia, have been found to use sign language. The people live 2,400 miles east of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

Robert Johnson, Dean of Graduate School at Gallaudet University and a sign language researcher, said that it was not that unusual for hearing people to use sign language.

"Some hearing monks used sign language," he said. "The Walpira, a group of people in Australia, require women to sign for a year after the death of their fathers. And don't forget the American Indians of the plains who had widespread systems of signing."

Johnson said that he doubted that the signs were the only language of the hearing Indonesians. He thought that they probably have a voice language, too.

The Vahudate and Aukedate live in high mountains, where steep hills and deep valleys make travel difficult. Hundreds of different groups of people live in this area, speaking 800 different dialects.

Pamela Zellner

Deaf Girl and Her Dog

 Featured in New Book 

Pamela Zellner, a deaf illustrator who graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf-Rochester Institute of Technology (NTID-RIT), and Sarah Nesbit, a hearing teacher from the Rochester School for the Deaf, have teamed up to produce Out to Win, a new book for young readers. Out to Win is about Sarah, a young deaf girl, and her dog, Toby. Author Nesbit is a dog trainer. She has won awards for showing purebred cocker spaniels at dog shows since 1975.

Sarah Nesbit-and a model for Toby

The book is part of NTID's educational interpreting project.

For more information, contact Jeanne M. Wells, project director, 716-475-6890 (T/V); JMWNSS@rit.edu.

General comments may be sent to: Ken.Kurlychek@gallaudet.edu
Last modified November 10, 1998
Copyright © 1998, All Rights Reserved
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center

Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC 20002-3695