Deaf History: Eastern Europe

Deaf history is often considered through the lens of events that took place in Western Europe or the United States. However, that does not mean that other parts of the world have nothing to offer Deaf history. One such region where actions were taken for the care and education of the Deaf was Eastern Europe. Throughout the 19th century, Deaf history in Eastern Europe was marked by problems identical to those that occurred in other parts of the world. The 20th century was an era of major geopolitical transformation that particularly impacted this region.

The post-war era in Eastern Europe, most often associated with communist domination, can, paradoxically, be viewed as a golden age in the development of Eastern European Deaf society, as the formation of Deaf associations and their management allowed for unprecedented consolidation and protection of the community’s needs. Next, perestroika, the breakup of the Soviet Union and the economic transition from socialism to capitalism had significant consequences for the deaf. Overall, the quality of life for the deaf in Eastern Europe has deteriorated in the last 20 years. At the same time, however, access to knowledge and solutions utilized in developed countries has allowed for increased social and cultural awareness of the Deaf as a linguistic and cultural minority rather than a disability group.

In discussing the region’s history, there are significant factors that influenced and shaped the lot of the deaf. The first of these factors was the rapidly changing political situation, particularly with regard to national movements (for example, Vilnius belonged in turn to Poland, Russia, the Soviet Union, and Lithuania). The rapid political, regime, and policy changes were not conducive to stable development for the deaf. One of the most glaring examples of how regime change impacted the situation of the Deaf is the falsification of the history of Deaf education in the Soviet Union. After the October Revolution, attempts were made to erase the achievements of the Russian Deaf community before 1917 from the historical record. This action, though fortunately unsuccessful, was a major setback for several generations of Deaf Russians. It is important to keep in mind that 19th- and 20th-century Eastern Europe was the site of numerous political and economic transformations, often occurring in dramatic circumstances. A particularly sad fact is that much of Deaf cultural heritage—archives, belongings, and individual and communal properties—was destroyed in the fires of war.

Little is known about Deaf history in Eastern Europe before the 19th century. The deaf were among the lowest social classes, generally illiterate and engaged in performing simple manual labor, often remaining dependent on their families.