Charles Michel de l'Épée

Charles-Michel de l'Épée (1712–1789) was a French educator renowned for pioneering methods to teach deaf individuals. Recognizing that deaf people could learn language, he developed one of the first successful sign languages and established the first free school for the deaf in Paris. His work laid foundational principles for deaf education, emphasizing that sign language is a legitimate form of communication. De l'Épée's efforts helped improve access to education and fostered greater societal inclusion for deaf individuals, making him a key figure in the history of education and deaf culture.