In honor of National Deaf History Month, we wanted to recognize a few organizations and women who have made an impact in the lives around them, and in history.
Helen Keller
source: link
One of the most famous women in history who spent her whole life both deaf and blind. However, here deafness or blindness did not stop her from becoming a treasured humanitarian. “As an adult, she lobbied for programs for the prevention of blindness, laws for the education and protection of the blind and deafblind, as well as state-assisted programs to help people with disabilities with job training and placement.” (x)
Rosa Lee Timm
Rosa Lee is a performance artist known mostly for her ASL Music Videos on YouTube, her work as a solo performer in The Rosa Lee Show, the managing editor of KISSFIST Magazine, and as a lead actor in ASL Films’s feature film Versa Effect. (x)
Mariko Takamura
A cultural icon for the deaf and hard of hearing in Japan. She was able to overcome many barriers to deafness in Japan to the benefit of many. Founder of WE (the World Exchange of Culture project)
Sue Thomas
Because she was an expert lip-reader, she became the first deaf person to work as an undercover specialist in an elite surveillance team for the FBI.
In 1990, Sue wrote her autobiography Silent Night which became the bases for a the TV series Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye.
From 2002-2005, the TV series ran for five season – a series mainly based on her experiences working for the FBI. The role of Sue was portrayed by deaf actress Deanne Bray.
Linda Bove
The deaf American actress know for her role as Linda the Librarian on the PBS children’s television show Sesame Street from 1971 – 2003.
Deaf Women United (DWU)
Let’s not forget about the women with DWU. The organization was started by pioneers of the Deaf women movement in 1984: “CB” Buchholz, Allie Joiner, Marsha Kessler-Nowak, Sheila Conlon-Mentkowski, Betty G. Miller, Sandra Ammons-Rasmus and Gwen Speakes. The objective for the organization as to provide tools, information, communal support, personal growth, and empowerment.
You could check out their website here: link to check out more information and to see how you could get involved. DWU is also one of the many organizations you could donate to whenever you make a purchase with AmazonSmile.
The American Association of University Women at CSUMB 
