April celebrates Deaf History Month, highlighting the contributions of the deaf and hard of hearing community that have shaped contemporary society. In recognition of this and their remarkable achievements, we are sharing the stories of four deaf and hard of hearing women who have made history. Their accomplishments and determination remind us that it is our unique differences that are our strengths, and that something amazing can come from anywhere and anyone. Figures like Kitty O’Neil, Juliette Gordon Low, Gertrude Elderle and Nellie Willhite blazed a trail not only for their peers, but future women of impact.
Whether it be behind the wheel or flying through the air after a stunt jump, Kitty O’Neil lived boldly and let nothing stand in the way of her dreams. Born in Texas, at only a few months old O’Neil lost her hearing as a baby after a high fever brought on by measles, mumps and smallpox destroyed nerves. Kitty learned to lipread from her mother, who later went on to open a school for the deaf. From a young age, Kitty had a need for speed and was a natural thrillseeker. During her career in daredevilry, Kitty went on to break multiple records, the first being in 1976 when she broke the women’s land-speed record by 200 mph in her rocket powered vehicle, the SMI Motivator. Later O’Neil went on to set records on water skis and in boats, further cementing herself as the “fastest woman alive.” Making waves in Hollywood too, O’Neil found great success as a stuntwoman and became especially well known for her skill at high-fall stunts. While shooting an episode of “Wonder Woman” O’Neil jumped off a hotel in Sherman Oaks, California to fall 12 stories and set yet another record in the process.
Although there is no doubt about O’Neill’s talent and courage, part of her key to success was also her unwavering belief in herself. During a talk at Holy Trinity School for the Deaf in 1979, O’Neill imparted this self-belief onto students, sharing:
Kitty O’Neil’s determination paved the way not only for other deaf and hard of hearing daredevils and stunt women, but inspire others to boldly chase their dreams regardless of anything or anyone else.
Juliette Gordon Low, nicknaked “Daisy,” founded the Girl Scouts in 1912. In founding the Girl Scouts, Low’s vision for the organization was to create an environment that would welcome all girls to celebrate their unique differences and learn important life and survival skills. Born in 1860 in Savannah, Georgia, Daisy experienced multiple ear injuries as a child and young adult which resulted in almost total loss of her hearing for the rest of her life. A serendipitous meeting with Boy Scout founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1912 led Low to discover her newfound purpose and create the Girls Scouts of America that same year. Beginning with a small troop of 18 girls, Low built an inclusive community to bring together girls from various walks of life so that they could come together with the common ambition of learning leadership skills, building confidence and reaching their full potential.
Low has since been recognized with numerous awards, including being inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2012 and having her birthplace being designated a National Historic Landmark. Juliette Gordon Low’s legacy lives on through the Girl Scouts organization, now with over three million members, and the countless young women brought together in sisterhood.
Swimmer Gertrude Ederle made her claim to fame as a competitor at the 1924 Olympics and as the first woman to swim the English Channel in 1926. A New York City native, Ederle was born in 1905 and was swimming competitively by her teenage years. After winning her first local competition at 16, just two years later Ederle found herself swimming at the 1924 Olympic games in Paris. At her first Olympics and at only 18, Ederle won a gold medal in her team event and two bronze medals in her singles events. After her first attempt to swim the English Channel in 1925 was unsuccessful, Ederle returned the following year to make history.
Learning from her previous attempt, Ederle made some key changes the following year that would prove to be critical to her success. During this time period, women’s bathing suits were traditionally one pieces and of heavy fabric. In her first effort to swim the English Channel, Ederle’s one-piece swimsuit filled with water and chafed her, ultimately weighing and slowing her down. Although still considered by some to be taboo and risque, she returned in 1926 donning a two-piece bathing suit she designed herself and greased herself with lanolin to protect against jellyfish stings and the cold temperature of the water. Not only did Ederle become the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel in 1926, but she set a new record with her time of 14 hours and 31 minutes, surpassing men who had previously swam the channel. Known thereafter as America’s “Queen of the Waves” Ederle had officially reached national stardom and left a lasting contribution for women’s sports.
Nellie Zabel Willhite proved that dreams know no bounds and refused to believe any limitations that others tried to impose upon her. Willhite became the first deaf woman to earn a pilot’s license, and South Dakota’s first-ever female pilot. Before her aviation dreams took flight, Willhite worked as a typist-stenographer and was first encouraged to fly by her coworker who was a flight instructor. After just 13 hours of instruction, Willhite made her first solo flight in 1927 and as only the 13th graduate of a Sioux Falls Flying School. Along with Amelia Earheart, Willhite became instrumental in forming the “99 Club” which was an organization for female pilots. As a pilot, Willhite performed stunts at county fairs, got her transport license, flew in air shows, raced and worked as a flight instructor. She worked as a commercial pilot until 1944, and became the first deaf individual to do so. Before her passing, Willhite was inducted into the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame. While she was no stranger to adversity, Willhite refused to allow the opinions of others to dictate her future and inspired others to pursue the life of their dreams.
InnoCaption provides real-time captioning technology making phone calls easy and accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Offered at no cost to individuals with hearing loss because we are certified by the FCC. InnoCaption is the only mobile app that offers real-time captioning of phone calls through live stenographers and automated speech recognition software. The choice is yours.
InnoCaption proporciona tecnología de subtitulado en tiempo real que hace que las llamadas telefónicas sean fáciles y accesibles para la comunidad de personas sordas y con problemas de audición. Se ofrece sin coste alguno para las personas con pérdida auditiva porque estamos certificados por la FCC. InnoCaption es la única aplicación móvil que ofrece subtitulación en tiempo real de llamadas telefónicas mediante taquígrafos en directo y software de reconocimiento automático del habla. Usted elige.
