Lawrence R. Newman was a prominent deaf

Deaf culture

Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication. When used as a cultural label, the word deaf is often written with a...

 activist, educator and author who served two terms as President of the National Association of the Deaf

National Association of the Deaf

National Associations of the Deaf are national bodies that represent Deaf people and the Deaf community in their respective countries. They are usually members of the World Federation of the Deaf and advocate for sign language.-See also:...

 from 1986 to 1990. He was named "California Teacher of the Year" in 1968. An early proponent of bilingual education for the Deaf, he was the author of two books: Sands of Time: NAD Presidents 1880-2003, and I Fill this Small Space: The Writings of a Deaf Activist. Newman was awarded on honorary doctor of letters degree by Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...

in 1978 in recognition of his extensive advocacy efforts as an educator and writer.

Quotations

• "Education is to deaf people what the Golden Fleece was to Jason in mythology. He was willing to go through many trials and tribulations because if he could get the Golden Fleece, the throne in the kingdom of Greece would be his. If deaf people could get an education, their minds would be set free and the kingdom of the world would be theirs."