The “now” in “Deaf President Now!” refers to the second week of March 1988 — when the students of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., united in protest of the board’s choice of a non-deaf candidate to lead the school. But the activism depicted is still relevant to identity-centric struggles today. For 124 years, the school had operated under an ableist set of assumptions, treating deaf and hard of hearing people as needing “help” from patronizing outsiders. But in the seven days depicted here, the students took charge, teaching their elders — and anyone who would listen — not to underestimate them.
A collaboration between deaf actor-advocate Nyle DiMarco and
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