Rochester School for the Deaf Marks 150 Years
The institution celebrated a century and a half of providing specialized education to the local community.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Special Education
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The Rochester School for the Deaf recently gathered alumni and students to commemorate its 150th anniversary. Established in 1876, the school continues to serve students from pre-Kindergarten through age 21.
Why it matters
The school serves as a long-standing pillar for specialized learning, offering tuition-free, state-funded education that integrates American Sign Language and English for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
The school provides tuition-free education for children and young adults from pre-Kindergarten through age 21. It offers a bilingual and bicultural curriculum focused on American Sign Language and English.
The players
Patti Canne
Patti Canne is an alumna of the Rochester School for the Deaf who graduated in 1981.
John Green
John Green is an alumnus of the Rochester School for the Deaf who graduated in 1984.
The details
Originally opened as the Western New York Institution for Deaf Mutes, the school has operated on St. Paul Street for over a century. It historically utilized the Rochester Method and Lyon's manual phonetic alphabet to foster communication and literacy.
Timeline
The school first opened in October 1876.
The school adopted its current name in 1920.
Patti Canne graduated from the school in 1981.
John Green graduated from the school in 1984.
The school celebrated its 150th anniversary in October 2026.
Culture Shift
The school's history is inextricably linked to the historical implementation of the Rochester Method, which prioritized specific phonetic communication techniques. This anniversary marks a departure from those legacy methods toward the modern bilingual focus on American Sign Language.
Families in the area benefit from the state-funded, tuition-free model which removes significant financial barriers to specialized education. Residents can continue to rely on the campus for long-term academic support for students ranging from early childhood through age 21.
The takeaway
The longevity of the Rochester School for the Deaf highlights the enduring importance of specialized, inclusive educational environments for the community. Supporting such institutions ensures that bilingual and bicultural learning remains accessible for future generations.
Further reading
For more information on learning resources and local programs, visit the Special Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Esther Winter.
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