Vernon, Ida

After her husband died in 1975, her 6 children encouraged her to go to Gallaudet College. At first, her state Vocational Rehabilitation agency refused to pay for her tuition, since she was 62 years old. After legal intervention by the National Center for Law and the Deaf, based on age discrimination, she was able to enroll, and graduated in 1981 on her 67th birthday. Her fellow students affectionately called her "Mama Ida". After being a dormitory counselor and summer camp counselor, she went into missionary work in Hawaii.