Search Biographies

Miller, Robert L.

ID
1959
Nationality
American
Occupation
Administrator
Summary
Graduated the California School for the Deaf in 1933. Eventually became the first director of deaf-blind services at the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco, serving there for 40 years before retirement.
References
The Eagle Soars to Enlightenment, p.395.
Dates
1915?-

Gill, Jane

ID
0368
Nationality
English
British
Occupation
Deaf-blind
Summary
Born deaf and with limited sight; vision declined until she was totally blind by age 7, possibly as early as age 4. Never educated; she lived with her family, apparently her entire life (at least to age 45 in 1843).
References
Touch, Touch, and Touch Again, p.77-78.
Dates
1798?-?

Rhodes, Cheryl Lynn Weisgereber

ID
0407
Nationality
American
Native American
Occupation
Deaf-blind
Summary
Born deaf at Woodbury, NJ; also had Usher Syndrome, leading to low vision in adulthood. Graduated the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf in 1967; dropped out of Gallaudet College after 1 year. Business school for 2 years, majoring in computer science, then worked with Bell Labs and BellSouth in consumer services for 29 years. Sister, also deaf-blind, is Winifred Ann Weisgerber Tunison (q.v.).
References
Step Into the Circle, p.27-30.
Dates
2 November 1948-

Thomas, Edith M.

ID
2768
Nationality
American
Occupation
Deaf-blind
Summary
Born at Chelsea, MA; blinded at age 4 from scarlet fever and diphtheria, gradually deafened from 4 to 6. At age 8, was sent to the Kindergarten for the Blind at Jamaica Plain, MA; later transferred to the parent school at South Boston. Developed an aptitude for needlework.
References
Peeps into the Deaf World, p.141-144.
Dates
fl. 1915

Cooter, Eliza

ID
0693
Nationality
English
British
Occupation
Deaf-blind
Summary
Born at Lewes, Suffolk; at age 6, became blind from "water in the head", very soon after also suffering a paralysis of the legs. The following year her hearing also began to decline until becoming totally deaf. Her paralysis also progressed until eventually only her right hand still had any control. She was able to communicate with the aid of "Moon's raised alphabet" and appears also to have learned (British) fingerspelling at some stage. Poems and a book were written about her; she was buried in Brighton Cemetary.
References
Touch, Touch, and Touch Again, p.1-3.
Dates
9 September 1841-17 September 1860

Stimpson, William

ID
2660
Nationality
English
British
Occupation
Deaf-blind
Summary
Age of onset of deafness and blindness not known, but both by age 13. Entered the Hugh Myddleton School refuge but exhibited continuous serious behavior problems and was kicked out. An industrial school for "troublesome" children refused to take him because of his deaf-blindness, and a school for the deaf rejected him because of his behavior problems. He ended up in a workhouse at Sheperdess Walk, London, and nothing more about his is known.
References
Touch, Touch, and Touch Again, p.37.
Dates
1881?-?

Berrette, Wanda Marie

ID
3406
Nationality
Canadian
Occupation
Interpreter for deaf-blind
Advocate
Teacher
Summary
Born deaf; graduated Gallaudet College in 1962. Active in deaf Canadian Catholic affairs. Instructor-coordinator for the Canadian Hearing Society; also served as an interpreter for deaf-blind persons and advocated for their needs.
References
Deaf Women of Canada, p.16-17.
Dates
1957-

Chapman, Tad

ID
4199
Nationality
American
Occupation
Deaf-blind
Summary
Born at Redfield, SD; deafened and blinded at age 3 1/2 from spinal meningitis. Attended South Dakota School for the Deaf 1921-1930, then transferred to the Perkins School for the Blind.
References
The Transcendent Territory, p.200.
Dates
1917?-?

Brody, Lee [Irving Lee Brody]

ID
0456
Nationality
American
Occupation
TTY pioneer
Summary
Deafened at six months from illness; attended the Central Institute for the Deaf, then a public high school, then graduated from Rutgers University. Becoming aware of the need for deaf people to be able to telephone other people, in 1969 he began reconditioning old Teletype (TTY) machines and distributing them among other deaf people. Later, developed the first Braille TTY for deaf-blind persons.
References
Successful Deaf Americans, p.47-49; I'm Deaf Too!, p.12-15.
Dates
fl. 1979

Cameron, Marjorie Lillian

ID
3440
Nationality
Canadian
Occupation
Mental health support worker
Competition skiier
Summary
Born at Chillwack, BC; deaf at 6 months from fever. Orally mainstreamed into various public schools. Worked as a mental health support worker for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind clients in Vancouver. Began competition skiing at age 14, competing mostly against hearing skiiers until entering the 1979 World Winter Games for the Deaf. Participated in several subsequent World Winter Games and other alpine skiing competions for the deaf, regularly placing high until a serious skiing injury around 1986 forced her retirement from competition skiing.
References
Deaf Women of Canada, p.39-40.
Dates
1960-