The history of deaf culture in America includes the development of American Sign Language and the establishment of the schools for the deaf. The technological advances designed to assist people with hearing impairments is part of the history of deaf culture.

American Sign Language began with Abbe Charles Michel de l’Epee who was a teacher of the deaf in France. This beginning sign language was a system of signing French.

Martha’s Vineyard was the location of a deaf community since families with hereditary deafness were residents of the area. An early version of sign language called Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) was developed and commonly used there during the seventeenth century.

American Sign Language was thought to develop from a combination of the manual English taught in deaf schools and signs that the deaf children had already been using at home. Therefore, Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language as well as individual signs that had been used by deaf families influenced what developed into American Sign Language.

Schools dedicating to educating deaf students are an integral part of the history of deaf culture in America. In 1861, the Kansas School for the Deaf was established. Abraham Lincoln dedicated Gallaudet University in 1864. Schools for the deaf were not only important for educational purposes, but the schools helped unify deaf culture.

Many people may be unaware that Alexander Graham Bell taught deaf students at schools for the deaf. The telephone and microphone that Bell invented were designed to help people who have hearing loss.

Early hearing aids were in the form of trumpets and horns to direct sound into the ear. The slight amplification through horns was replaced with more effective body-worn hearing aids. As the technology improved, the hearing aids become smaller, behind-the-ear hearing aids.

The history of deaf culture includes the involvement of the deaf community in art and the media. In addition to deaf theatre, people with deafness have shown the hearing community glimpses of what it is like to be deaf by being in the hearing media. Hellen Keller offered a glimpse of the personal side of being deafblind. Deaf actors and actresses have made appearances on television and in films.