Deaf President Now!

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Deaf President Now!

2025

1h 40m

Documentary

History

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9 Reviews

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"Deaf President Now!" recounts the eight days of historic protests held at Gallaudet University in 1988 after the school's board of trustees appointed a hearing president over several very qualified Deaf candidates. After a week of rallies, boycotts and protests, the students of Gallaudet University triumph as the hearing president resigns and beloved dean Dr. I. King Jordan becomes the university's first Deaf president. The protests marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, with an impact that extended well beyond the Gallaudet campus, and paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Peter Debruge

Variety

The propulsive nonfiction story feels as inspirational as any scripted feature.

Feb 6, 2025

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Marya E. Gates

RogerEbert.com

A firebrand historical documentary that is as crowd-pleasing and informative as it is innovative and inclusive.

Feb 3, 2025

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Daniel Fienberg

The Hollywood Reporter

An efficient and inspiring primer on how hard-won and important that progress truly was and still is.

Jan 30, 2025

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Abby Olcese

The Pitch

Deaf President Now! ultimately leaves audiences (or at least left mine) inspired to go find a cause to stand for, and a community to stand with.

Mar 8, 2025

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Alex Billington

FirstShowing.net

It's an awesome, empowering, riveting story that most people don't know - and this doc does such a superb job of retelling it and confirming its importance as one of the greatest civil rights movements in America's history.

Rated: 8.5/10

Feb 9, 2025

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

Very entertaining, really good interviews. Good story

Feb 6, 2025

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Nyle DiMarco

Director

Davis Guggenheim

Director

Bridgette Bourne-Firl

Self

Jerry Covell

Self

Greg Hlibok

Self

I. King Jordan

Self

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Synopsis

"Deaf President Now!" recounts the eight days of historic protests held at Gallaudet University in 1988 after the school's board of trustees appointed a hearing president over several very qualified Deaf candidates. After a week of rallies, boycotts and protests, the students of Gallaudet University triumph as the hearing president resigns and beloved dean Dr. I. King Jordan becomes the university's first Deaf president. The protests marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, with an impact that extended well beyond the Gallaudet campus, and paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Director: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim
Producer: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim, Michael Harte, Jonathan King, Amanda Rohlke
Production Co: Concordia Studio
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 40m