What is NDLM?

The National Deaf Life Museum brings stories of Deaf lives in America to the public through dynamic exhibitions, interactive public programming, and digital projects. As a non-collecting museum, it works with institutions, artists, lenders, and communities to share these stories.

Founded in 2007 by Dr. Jane Norman, Ph.D. (1939–2020), the National Deaf Life Museum at Gallaudet University shares stories of Deaf lives in America through exhibitions, public programs, and digital projects. The museum operates within the Office of Arts, Culture, and Experience (ACE), which supports arts, culture, and community engagement across the university.

Through dynamic exhibitions and interactive programming, the museum brings together artworks, historical materials, media, and scholarship to explore the many ways Deaf people have shaped American life. Exhibitions are developed in collaboration with artists, scholars, individuals, and lending institutions.

As a non-collecting museum, the National Deaf Life Museum works with artists and lenders to present materials on loan for exhibitions and educational programs. Its online exhibition platform extends the museum’s work beyond the gallery, making stories of Deaf lives in America accessible through images, video, and scholarly interpretation.