Deaf history

Sign language history: 2010s

ICED apologizes re Milan 1880

The 2010 ICED (International Congress on the Education of the Deaf) hosted in Vancouver, Canada, stated a formal apology for the Milan 1880 conference which banned signed languages in deaf education.

Solon pushes sign language act (2012)

Sep 6 2012: Manila, Philippines – A progressive solon is seeking the passage of a “long overdue” bill declaring the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the national sign language and mandating its use as the medium of instruction in deaf education. Alliance of ...

First all-ASL episode on TV

March 4, 2013: The ABC Family's Switched at Birth broadcasted its first all-ASL episode in the history on mainstream TV.

ABC Family's award-winning drama, SWITCHED AT BIRTH, was airing an episode on Monday, March 4 told entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), a first for a scripted series on mainstream television.

United Nations Human Rights Award Prize

December 10, 2013: Dr. Liisa Kauppinen received the 2013 United Nations Human Rights Award Prize from the United Nations in New York, USA. The United Nations Prize in the field of Human Rights is an honorary award given to individuals and organisations for outstanding achievement in human rights every five years.

Danish Sign Language officially recognized

May 13, 2014: Danish Sign Language was unanimously recognized at the Danish parliament.

Papula New Guinea Sign Language officially recognized

May 21, 2015: Papula New Guinea\'s government officially endorsed sign language as the country\'s fourth official language alongside English, Tok Pisin and Motu.

British Sign Language Bill Passed

Sept 17, 2015: British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill was passed unanimously by all Parties in the Chamber in Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh. The BSL (Scotland) was set to become an Act and will promote the use of BSL. Scotland was the first country in the UK to make BSL an Act, which was an emotional day for Deaf community in Scotland.

First Deaf Actor on America's Next Top Model

September 2015: American actor and model Nyle DiMarco (1989-present) is the first deaf contestant on America's Next Top Model (ANTM) which the show ran in September 2015. He won this contest for the very last cycle 22 of the ANTM!

Deaf person joining "Dancing with the Stars

April 2016: Nyle DiMarco (1989-present), an American actor and model, was invited to join 'Dancing with the Stars' competition in April.

Deaf lawyers being sworn into the Supreme Court Bar

Twelve Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing attorneys were being sworn into the Supreme Court Bar at the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. learned to sign "Your motion is granted." in American Sign Language (ASL).

Nyle DiMarco and Dancing with the Stars.

Nyle DiMarco (1989-present), an American actor and model, won Mirror Ball Trophy in Season 22's Dancing With the Stars.

Irish Sign Language given official legal recognition

December 2017: President Michael D. Higgins signed new legislation conferring legal recognition on Irish Sign Language.

International Day of Sign Languages

December 19, 2017: The United Nations General Assembly declared September 23 as International Day of Sign Languages.

ASL-LSQ nationwide rally

September 22, 2018: The CAD (Canadian Association of the Deaf) hosts a nationwide rally at the Legislative buildings in most provincial capital cities across Canada for the official recognition of ASL, LSQ, and Indigenous Sign Language.

Related posts

Related links: Timeline: ancient.

New to sign language? "Where do I start?" or "How do I start learning sign language?" This ASL Rookie guide lists some selected links to the tutorials for ASL beginners to get started and keep rolling. It may be a useful review for intermediate-level learners and ASL students as well.

Some tutorial pages are a mix of free and premium versions. Access to premium content and links below are available in the PatronPlus subscription. More links/posts will be added from time to time.

Expressing needs and wants

  1. Making commands or requests

Talking about activities

  1. Frequency of time: how often?

Are you able to carry everyday conversations in ASL? Are you a student in the intermediate levels and beyond, who wishes to boost up your signing skills? You've come to the selected tutorial series. (Some premium content are available to PatronPlus membership.)

Stories, poems, performance arts, etc. in sign language.

This documentation project follows a child's language acquisition, literacy development, and phonological acquisition in sign language, specifically ASL, from newborn to age five in a natural native-ASL environment and visual culture.