About US

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• From its founding in 1640 through the end of the 1800s 
• Jonathan Lambert was the first Deaf person to settle in Chilmark in 1692 
• By the middle of the 19th century, one in every 25 people in Chilmark was deaf. In the U.S. overall, by contrast, that number was roughly one in 5,700. 
• while one in 25 people were deaf, something closer to 25 in 25 knew how to sign. 
• The last known person with Lambert’s hereditary deafness, Katie West, died in 1952

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Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) is a sign language once widely used on the island from the early 18th century to the year 1952. It was remarkable for its use by both deaf and hearing people in the community; consequently, deafness did not become a barrier to participation in public life. In a section (village) of Chilmark town called Squibnocket, one out of four people are deaf. This was highest concentration of deaf people on the island that time.

Deaf fact - On April 5, 1714, Jonathan Lambert was the first case of deafness recorded on the island.

  - Pages of history The Martha's Vineyard Deaf Community
  - Deafness on Martha's Vineyard
  - Deaf History - Martha's Vineyard (Hearing Had to Learn Sign)
  -  Chilmark The town was once known for its unusually high percentage of deaf citizens. In 1854, Chilmark had a deaf population of one in every 25 people, while the national average was one deaf person in 5728.
  - Martha's Vineyard