🎙️ Show Notes

On May 16, 2025, a groundbreaking documentary titled "Deaf President Now!" will be released, chronicling the historic 1988 student-led protest at Gallaudet University—the world’s only liberal arts university for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. But this episode is more than a retelling. It’s a personal reflection on what that moment meant then, how it shaped Deaf education, and the cultural revolution that followed.

In this episode, I share my own journey from a curious outsider to someone deeply embedded in the Deaf community. I revisit the DPN movement not just as a pivotal civil rights event, but as the spark that lit a fire of change in Deaf education, culture, and self-representation. We explore:

• Why the appointment of a Deaf president finally mattered
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• The rise of bilingual-bicultural (Bi-Bi) education and what it really means
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• How the cultural renaissance post-DPN transformed Deaf schools and inspired students
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• The impact of cochlear implants on Deaf identity and language access
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• The continuing relevance of DPN in today’s shifting educational and cultural landscapes
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Whether you’re familiar with Deaf culture or discovering this history for the first time, this is a powerful reminder that inclusion isn’t just about access—it’s about representation, respect, and identity.

💬 As Nyle DiMarco said, “Deaf history is American history.” Let’s make sure it's remembered, celebrated, and passed on.

📌 Key Moments:

• [00:02:00] The Gallaudet Protest: Why It Happened
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• [00:07:30] My First Encounter with Deaf Culture
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• [00:14:45] Deaf Schools and the Bi-Bi Shift
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• [00:22:10] The Cultural Renaissance of the 1990s
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• [00:28:00] Cochlear Implants and Language Deprivation
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• [00:34:00] Why DPN Still Matters Today
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🔗 Resources & References:

• Deaf President Now! Documentary – Releasing May 16, 2025
• Disability Scoop article on the film: [Link if available] https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/05/09/appletv-documentary-spotlights-pivotal-disability-protest/31447/
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD) – www.nad.org
• “A Journey Into the Deaf World” by Harlan Lane, Robert Hoffmeister, and Ben Bahan
• https://gallaudet.edu/museum/history/the-deaf-president-now-dpn-protest/the-impact-of-the-deaf-president-now-protest/#:~:text=The%20Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Act%20(ADA)%20protects%20deaf%20people%20and,and%20the%20speed%20of%20introduction.

📢 Let’s Continue the Conversation:

Have you experienced Deaf education before or after DPN? Are you a teacher, student, or parent navigating Bi-Bi vs. oral approaches today? Share your story with us on social or email!

🔖 Hashtags:

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#BiBiEducation

#SignLanguageMatters

#ASL

#DeafCulture

#CochlearImplants

#DisabilityRights

#NyleDiMarco

#Gallaudet

#RepresentationMatters

#DeafIdentity

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#LanguageAccess

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