Ready for a truly amazing piece of Deaf history? An island where sign language was used by everyone—Deaf and hearing alike!
Let me take you to Martha’s Vineyard, a beautiful island off the coast of Massachusetts, where for over 200 years, signing was normal—and Deaf people were fully included in everyday life. 🌿✨
🏝️ A signing island
In the early 1700s, English settlers from Kent brought with them a gene that caused hereditary Deafness. Many of them settled in Martha’s Vineyard.
Over time, a large population of Deaf residents grew—by the mid-1800s, as many as 1 in 25 islanders were Deaf (and in some areas, it was closer to 1 in 4!). But instead of isolating people, the island adapted.
The solution?
Everyone learned to sign.
Not out of pity, not because they had to—but because that’s just how people communicated. 🤟
💬 Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL)
This wasn’t ASL—not yet! The language they used was called Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL). It developed locally, passed down through generations. Children learned it at home. Farmers signed while working. People signed at church, in shops, and even during town meetings.
Whether someone was Deaf or hearing didn’t matter—everyone used the same language, and everyone was included.
MVSL wasn’t just a way to communicate—it was a sign of community, equality, and connection. 🌱
🤔 What happened to MVSL?
As Deaf children began attending the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut in the 1800s, they were introduced to what would eventually become American Sign Language (ASL).
Over time, MVSL blended with other sign systems, including French Sign Language and home sign systems. Many features of MVSL were absorbed into ASL—so in a way, Martha’s Vineyard helped shape the ASL we use today. 🙌
By the 1950s, MVSL had faded, along with the last Deaf residents who used it daily. But its legacy? Still here, in every sign we use.
🌎 Why this history matters
This story is more than a fun fact. It’s a powerful reminder that:
✔️ Deaf and hearing people can build shared language communities
✔️ Inclusion isn’t new—it has deep roots
✔️ Deafness isn’t a barrier
Martha’s Vineyard shows us what true accessibility looks like: not just interpreting after the fact, but living together in language from the start. 💬
🤔 Imagine this…
What if more places were like Martha’s Vineyard?
What if every community used sign language—and Deaf people were never left out?
Well… learning ASL is a great first step! 🤟
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