Each month, a group of people meet at different locations around the county to rally deaf pride, edify each other, build relationships and educate. The group is also known as the North East (NE) Ohio Deaf Chat. They recently met at Brumby’s Coffeehouse & Pizzeria in Bellville.
In honor of Deaf History Month, which started March 13 and lasts through April 15, Rita Neal signed a brief history to the attendees, who were mostly deaf or hard of hearing. Three key moments in deaf history led to designating this specific span of dates as Deaf History Month.
On April 15, 1817 the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Conneticut is deemed the first permanent public school for the deaf. On April 8, 1864 was the signing of the Gallaudet University charter by President Abraham Lincoln. Additionally, on March 13, 1988 a protest for a deaf president to be nominated for Gallaudet University took place in Washington D.C.
This past January, a deaf woman named Jessica Fry started the NE Ohio Deaf Chat club. Using an intrepretor, Fry said she started the club because she feels the deaf community experiences oppression, and that others who are not deaf or hard of hearing, need to be educated on how to interact with a deaf person.
“We started it as a place where everybody can get together to chat and socialize, interact. We meet every month. It’s very exciting to get together. More and more people are showing up now. We saw it as an opportunity to do something exciting and positive and to promote the success of our deaf community,” said Fry.
Fry said she and her brother are the only members of their family who are deaf. Growing up, she played sports to prove others that deaf people can keep up with everyone else.
“I wanted to prove deaf people are the same as everyone else,” said Fry.
The deaf chats each month creates an environment where other deaf people can relate to and meet other deaf or hard of hearing people. Their recent meeting attracted a group of more than 30 people where stories, food, and conversation were shared.
Rita Neal presented a brief history that highlighted important snippets of deaf equality. Her timeline included the dates listed above and important figures people like William “Dummy” Hoy, who invented signs for baseball umpires and players. She stood in front of the crowd in Brumby’s, while interpreters Lynn Feldman and Christine Skelnik translated in spoken English.
Neal started her presentation by signing, “Hello everyone. Welcome to the Deaf History Month. I am here today to celebrate with you. Today is a special day, a special day that we all celebrate together. A day to remember, a day to smile, a day to celebrate.”
For more information on how to get involved with the deaf community, contact The Center in Mansfield by calling 419-522-4357 or visit their website. Another Deaf Chat is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30 at Lex Lanes in Lexington at 6 p.m.
“We started it as a place where everybody can get together to chat and socialize, interact. We meet every month. It’s very exciting to get together. More and more people are showing up now. We saw it as an opportunity to do something exciting and positive and to promote the success of our deaf community,” said Fry.
