In the 1700s of the Georgian Era, there lived a very well known couple. The father was the mayor of the town La Balme from 1780 to 1814, the mother was well known for being a notary public profession, his father was also a notary public. One very well known pioneer to the Exceptional Needs community was born to these lovely people, on December 26, 1785. His name is known as Laurent Clerc, his birth name is Louis Laurent Marie Clerc. He had a normal household family and a very well happy childhood until his accident at the age of 1. Clerc was left unattended momentary when he fell from the chair he was sitting on and into a fire. He received a scar on the right side of the face which he was famously known for later in life. Clerc was taken …show more content…
During his years in school Laurent was a high scholar on his studies where he was taught by another well known person, Abbe Sicard. While in Sicard’s mentor care and education studies, “He was gifted with uncommon mental powers and soon distinguished himself so well as a scholar that, upon completion of his course of study, he was appointed an assistant teacher in the Institution. (Clerc).” While being an assistant teacher and teaching the highest class, he met one of his good life-long friends Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. The story of how Gallaudet met Clerc is as follows told by National Deaf Education Center, “ When Napoleon returned to Paris in March, 1815, Sicard decided that he should leave. He visited England and brought with him Massieu and Clerc. In London, they lectured and demonstrated their teaching methods. One of their lectures on July 10 was attended by the Yankee Congregationalist minister, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, from Hartford, Connecticut.” When returned back to France, Clerc began to teach Sign Language to Gallaudet as his private instructor. Gallaudet was fond of his “master teacher” so much that he asked Clerc to travel to the states with him when he had to return. From doing many researchers and even finding the Journal from the 52-day travel to Hartford, Connecticut we can see an inside note of, “In spite of his mother's objections, Clerc decided to go. However, Gallaudet had to sign a contract with Sicard, stating that Clerc was "on loan" only for three years in the States (Canlas).” During these 52 days of travel which started on June 18, 1816; Gallaudet taught Clerc English and Clerc continued teaching Gallaudet Sign Language. Gallaudet University states that, “ They discussed the school for the deaf which they planned to open. On the long trip, they had many conversations about education and deafness. The year after they arrived, they founded a school for