Tributes to Dr. Barbara Kannapell
Gallaudet University, The New York Times, and the Washington Post all posted tributes to Dr. Barbara Kannapell, a deaf woman who passed away at the age of 83 on August 11 from complications of hip surgery. She was known to many in the deaf community as “Kanny.”
Gallaudet explained that Kannapell became the first deaf person to receive a doctoral degree in sociolinguistics in 1985 when she received her Ph.D. from Georgetown University. She wrote a dissertation studying deaf people’s identities as bilingual people, being fluent in both ASL and English.
The New York Times said Kannapell is credited with using the concept of bilingualism and applying it to the deaf experience, which was a breakthrough that recognized and elevated the value of ASL.
Gallaudet said she went on to become an internationally-renowned sociolinguist and consultant, specializing in presentations on Deaf identity, Deaf culture, bilingual education for Deaf children, and on power and oppression in the Deaf community.
The Washington Post explained that in 1972, Kannapell was a co-founder of Deafpride, an organization that sought to advance the rights and opportunities of deaf people of all races. She founded it with an African American mother of a deaf child. Gallaudet’s tribute said Kannapell faced backlash from White deaf people for trying to bring Black and White Deaf communities together, but that she persisted courageously.
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Gallaudet President Roberta Cordano said in a statement that Kannapell was “proudly out,” and a “strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ Deaf community, and a strong ally and leader in our community for removing barriers for Black Deaf People.”
Kannapell was a member and a leader within the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) organization, marking 50 years of sobriety at the time of her death. She helped to form deaf AA groups and helped other deaf people to receive interpreters for AA meetings.
Gallaudet’s tribute said Kannapell worked at the university for 25 years and also taught at Community College of Baltimore County.
Gallaudet said Kannapell did extensive research on the experiences of deaf Americans during World War II and that her colleagues plan to complete her research project and publish it in the near future.
Kannapell leaves behind a partner and wife of 50 years, Mary Eileen Paul, who is hearing. They met at a gay bar in Washington in 1971. Gallaudet said it would hold a memorial celebration this fall.
https://www.gallaudet.edu/news/barbara-marie-kannapell-an-appreciation/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/us/barbara-kannapell-dead.html