Gallaudet, Friend of the Deaf

by Etta B. Degering

Thomas Gallaudet was a young man of high ambitions but of weak health. After graduating from college he tried four professions but had to drop out of them. Then one day, while watching his younger brothers and sisters at play, he noticed a small girl looking on but taking no part. She was deaf. Thomas invented a game that helped her for the first time in her life to understand that things have names.

From that day until the end of his life Thomas Gallaudet devoted his energies to helping the deaf to cope and to removing the barriers between the handicapped and the normal.

177 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[ambyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to pick one word for this book, it would be "earnest." The way it blends lengthy primary source quotes from letters and diaries with set-piece scenes that make cheerfully unsupported assertions about what people thought, felt, and observed feels dated and somewhat jarring, but one certainly can't fault De Gering for not having done her research.

[Amory Pecina]

I read about Thomas Hopkin Gallaudet is first educator to deaf in united state of American from our disabled community.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this book for English class for research project, I picked Thomas Hopkin Gallaudet for my choosing. It wasn't easy to get a good book or history on him. If anyone wants to research good information, it's this book. I thought it would be a drag to read this, instead, I found myself very interested.

This shows mixed of Gallaudet's life from the beginning and how he came to make a difference in towards deaf children. Honestly, this has so much details and it helped out so much for the research I needed. Gallaudet has gone through so much, it made sense.

All I can say is that his parents' quote did put an input on his career to stand out, not just for a decent career or money. He passed it onto his son and that brings out a lot in people.

I have read this book at least five or ten times. I would reread this anytime, especially how he met his wife and what she did. I honestly think this is very special in their relationship and it doesn't show much the internet about them. She's also one of the people she influenced.

Alice Cogswell wasn't just a neighbor, she has a side story in this one, and no one seem to know what she has been through. She may be the standard reason why Gallaudet provided education for the deaf, but her life have made a point to him.

I enjoy this book so much and made me appreciate my education I have today. I would honestly recommend it to anyone who's researching him or wants a little piece of history to be sparked by or to be inspired by. Or wants to study more into the deaf area. Whatever the reasons are, I would surely recommend this one the most.

There's emotions put in there without much of communication, but it shows what has gone through. This book isn't based on Gallaudet's journey, it's the people he exposed himself to and around to, to make a difference to more than he realizes.