Deaf History Month 2023:The First International Congress on Education of the Deaf (Milan Congress) in 1880
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The First International Congress on Education of the Deaf, also known as the Milan Congress, was a turning point in the history of deaf education. Held in Milan, Italy in 1880, the congress aimed to determine the best method for educating deaf children. At the time, two approaches were being used: the oral method, which emphasized speech and lipreading, and the manual method, which emphasized sign language. Advocates of the oral method believed that sign language was inferior and hindered the development of speech, while advocates of the manual method believed that sign language was natural and necessary for deaf children's education.
At the Milan Congress, the oral method was declared the superior method, and sign language was banned from the classroom. This decision had a profound impact on the education and culture of the deaf community, leading to the suppression of sign language and the forced use of speech and lipreading. It wasn't until years later that sign language was recognized as a valid language and the deaf community was able to reclaim its use in education and everyday life.
Despite its controversial legacy, the Milan Congress marked a significant moment in the history of deaf education and sparked important conversations about language and communication. Today, deaf education continues to evolve, with a growing recognition of the importance of sign language and the need for accessible and inclusive education for all