A concise illustrated history of Deaf people in America, beginning with Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet's transformative encounter with a young deaf girl named Alice. Driven by his passion for education and dismayed by the lack of schools for Deaf students in America, Gallaudet traveled to Europe, where he met French Deaf educator Laurent Clerc, who taught him sign language. Together, they returned to the U.S. and founded the first school for the Deaf. Sadly, over 60 years later, hearing educators passed resolutions at a symposium banning sign language and removing Deaf teachers from classrooms. These dark times persisted for more than a century, until the pivotal "Deaf President Now" movement, which marked a critical fight for equality, accessibility, and cultural recognition. The movement was underscored by Dr. King Jordan's powerful declaration: "Deaf people can do anything except hear."

Written by Eric Brody and brought to life with the expressive artwork of Courtney Monday, this book vividly retells the stories of these Deaf heroes. It's a must-read for both children and adults who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or losing their hearing, celebrating the history and contributions of those who have paved the way for the Deaf community's place in society today.