Story: Disability and disability organisations

Early institutions: Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institution (1st of 3)

Early institutions: Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institution

With shoe in hand, the director of the Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institution, Gerrit van Asch, teaches students in a classroom in 1884. Students boarded at the centre and lessons were taught orally. As was the convention at this time, sign language was banned.

As well as continuing to offer residential care, today the centre (now known as the van Asch Deaf Education Centre) provides support and services for deaf children in mainstream education.

Using this item

Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Martin Sullivan, 'Disability and disability organisations - Care until the early 20th century', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/29165/early-institutions-sumner-deaf-and-dumb-institution (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Martin Sullivan, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 12 Jul 2018