Dr. Grant B. Bitter,
the Father of Mainstreaming
Written & Compiled by Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2015
Updated in 2024
Published in 2015
Updated in 2024
Note
Through my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner, who graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1954 and is the father of two Deaf children named Duane and Deanne, I had the fortunate opportunity to learn about the life and legacy of Dr. Grant B. Bitter, a renowned oral and mainstream education advocate. Dr. Bitter's profound influence on deaf education in Utah caught my attention, thanks to Kenneth's storytelling. Dr. Bitter's ideologies have had a long-lasting impact on the education of Deaf children in Utah. He was the driving force behind Utah's movement in the 1960s to mainstream all Deaf children, which was a transformative moment for a parent of a Deaf daughter like him that earned him the title of 'Father of Mainstreaming.' Without Kenneth's recollections, Dr. Bitter's influence, and his challenger, Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, a prominent Deaf community leader in Utah who staunchly supported sign language and state schools for the deaf who engaged in battle with Dr. Bitter, I wouldn't have been able to write about this important history. I've compiled a webpage detailing Dr. Bitter's career and education, so you can learn more about him. If you want to understand his impact on deaf education in Utah, I recommend reading the "Deaf Education History in Utah" webpages. Finally, you can find a collection of Dr. Bitter's videos on the webpage below.
Enjoy!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Enjoy!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Who is Dr. Grant B. Bitter?
Dr. Grant B. Bitter was a renowned advocate of oral and mainstream education. In the 1960s, he played a significant role in Utah's movement to mainstream all Deaf children, earning him the title of "Father of Mainstreaming." Dr. Bitter championed mainstreaming for all Deaf children, leading to its widespread acceptance in 1975 with the passage of Public Law 94-142, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. His daughter, Colleen, was born deaf in 1954, which inspired his dedication to the advancement of both oral and mainstream education. Dr. Bitter supported the idea of mainstreaming for all Deaf and hard of hearing children for two main reasons: his own Deaf daughter and his internship experience at the Lexington School for the Deaf. During his master's degree studies, he interned at Lexington School for the Deaf, an oral school, and was shocked to see young children having to leave their parents for a week, often crying and screaming. His role as a father of a Deaf child, as well as his experience, inspired him to advocate for mainstreaming, allowing Deaf children to attend local public schools at home (Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987).
Dr. Stephen C. Baldwin, who was deaf, worked as the Total Communication Division Curriculum Coordinator at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1970s. He spoke about his experiences with Dr. Bitter, who was a firm advocate of oral and mainstream philosophy. He stated that Dr. Bitter, a hard-core oralist, was one of the top figures in oral education, and no one was more persistent than him in promoting an oral and mainstream approach. Dr. Baldwin also remembered how Dr. Bitter criticized the use of sign language in schools and residential schools and the popularity of sign language usage in schools (Baldwin, 1990). Dr. Bitter's advocacy for the oral and mainstreaming movements sparked a long-standing feud with the Utah Association for the Deaf, a group comprised mainly of graduates from the Utah School for the Deaf, particularly Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, a prominent Deaf community leader in Utah who became deaf at the age of 11 and was a staunch supporter of sign language and state schools for the deaf. The intense animosity between these two giants was due to the ongoing dispute over oral and sign language in Utah's deaf educational system. Their struggle was akin to a chess game, with each maneuvering politically to gain the upper hand in the deaf educational system. This included disputes during oral demonstrations, protests, education committee meetings, and board meetings. Dr. Bitter has also formally demanded the termination of Dr. Robert Sanderson and Dr. Jay J. Campbell, two esteemed advocates for sign language, due to what he perceives as their interference with his mission to promote oral and mainstream education. He has also expressed dissatisfaction with Beth Ann Stewart Campbell's television interpretation of news in sign language, as he felt it did not align with his educational goals. Finally, he has asked Della L. Loveridge, a Utah legislator and respected chairperson of the committee, to resign due to her decision to invite representatives from the Utah Association for the Deaf, which he perceived as a drift from the committee's focus. The Utah Association for the Deaf demonstrated remarkable resilience when faced with Dr. Bitter's challenges, marking a significant turning point in our history.
Dr. Stephen C. Baldwin, who was deaf, worked as the Total Communication Division Curriculum Coordinator at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1970s. He spoke about his experiences with Dr. Bitter, who was a firm advocate of oral and mainstream philosophy. He stated that Dr. Bitter, a hard-core oralist, was one of the top figures in oral education, and no one was more persistent than him in promoting an oral and mainstream approach. Dr. Baldwin also remembered how Dr. Bitter criticized the use of sign language in schools and residential schools and the popularity of sign language usage in schools (Baldwin, 1990). Dr. Bitter's advocacy for the oral and mainstreaming movements sparked a long-standing feud with the Utah Association for the Deaf, a group comprised mainly of graduates from the Utah School for the Deaf, particularly Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, a prominent Deaf community leader in Utah who became deaf at the age of 11 and was a staunch supporter of sign language and state schools for the deaf. The intense animosity between these two giants was due to the ongoing dispute over oral and sign language in Utah's deaf educational system. Their struggle was akin to a chess game, with each maneuvering politically to gain the upper hand in the deaf educational system. This included disputes during oral demonstrations, protests, education committee meetings, and board meetings. Dr. Bitter has also formally demanded the termination of Dr. Robert Sanderson and Dr. Jay J. Campbell, two esteemed advocates for sign language, due to what he perceives as their interference with his mission to promote oral and mainstream education. He has also expressed dissatisfaction with Beth Ann Stewart Campbell's television interpretation of news in sign language, as he felt it did not align with his educational goals. Finally, he has asked Della L. Loveridge, a Utah legislator and respected chairperson of the committee, to resign due to her decision to invite representatives from the Utah Association for the Deaf, which he perceived as a drift from the committee's focus. The Utah Association for the Deaf demonstrated remarkable resilience when faced with Dr. Bitter's challenges, marking a significant turning point in our history.
Dr. Bitter has had an extensive career in teaching and curriculum development. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Utah. Before joining the Utah School for the Deaf, he worked as a religious education teacher. From 1950 to 1958, he taught the seminary class of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Subsequently, he received a scholarship to the Lexington School for the Deaf, affiliated with Columbia University, in New York City, where he earned a master's degree and a special education certificate while interning at the school from 1961 to 1962. Upon completion of his master's degree, he returned to Utah and began teaching in the Oral Extension classes of the Utah School for the Deaf in the Salt Lake City School District from 1962 to 1964 (Bitter, Summary Report for Tenure, 1985; Bitter, Utah's Hearing-Impaired Children...At High Risk, 1986; Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987).
After completing his doctorate in audiology, rehabilitation, and administrative-educational administration with a focus on special education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in the summer of 1967, he returned to Utah after three years of schooling. He worked at the University of Utah and also became the coordinator of the Deaf Seminary Program under The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah (Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987; Obituary: Grant Bunderson Bitter, Deseret News, July 2, 2000; Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987).
After completing his doctorate in audiology, rehabilitation, and administrative-educational administration with a focus on special education at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in the summer of 1967, he returned to Utah after three years of schooling. He worked at the University of Utah and also became the coordinator of the Deaf Seminary Program under The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah (Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987; Obituary: Grant Bunderson Bitter, Deseret News, July 2, 2000; Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987).
From 1967 to 1969, Dr. Bitter worked as the Extension Division Curriculum Coordinator in Salt Lake City, Utah. He resigned from this coordinator position in 1969 due to increasing job demands. He also held part-time positions as the Coordinator for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Seminary for Deaf high school students and the Director of the Teacher Preparation Program under the Department of Speech and Audiology at the University of Utah, which was established in 1962 (University of Utah, November 28, 1977).
In 1968, Dr. Bitter became an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Hearing-Impaired Teacher Preparation Program under the Department of Special Education of the University of Utah, which he held until 1987, a year after the program closed in 1986 (Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987).
In 1968, Dr. Bitter became an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Hearing-Impaired Teacher Preparation Program under the Department of Special Education of the University of Utah, which he held until 1987, a year after the program closed in 1986 (Grant Bitter: Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project, March 17, 1987).
During his career, Dr. Bitter was involved in projects at both the state and national levels. In 1970, he founded the Oral Deaf Association of Utah, and in 1981, he founded the Utah Registry of Oral Interpreters. As the chair of the Utah Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association, Dr. Bitter led a group advocating for oral Deaf people. From 1968 to 1987, he directed the Teacher Preparation Program, focusing primarily on oral education under the Special Education Department at the University of Utah, dedicating himself to oral deaf education (Bitter, Summary Report for Tenure, 1985; Bitter, Utah's Hearing-Impaired Children... At High Risk, 1986).
Dr. Bitter was also a prominent lobbyist on Utah Capitol Hill, effectively collaborating with legislators. He continuously emphasized the importance of adequately preparing Deaf and hard of hearing people for life in an English-speaking environment. Dr. Bitter said teaching Deaf people the skills necessary to live a 'normal' life was crucial. His influence in Utah during the 1900s was comparable to that of an early pioneer of oralism, Alexander Graham Bell, who had an impact in the United States during the 1800s. Dr. Bitter's advocacy for the full integration of Deaf people into mainstream society was unwavering, and he saw speech as the means to achieve this (Baldwin, 1990).
Dr. Bitter was also a prominent lobbyist on Utah Capitol Hill, effectively collaborating with legislators. He continuously emphasized the importance of adequately preparing Deaf and hard of hearing people for life in an English-speaking environment. Dr. Bitter said teaching Deaf people the skills necessary to live a 'normal' life was crucial. His influence in Utah during the 1900s was comparable to that of an early pioneer of oralism, Alexander Graham Bell, who had an impact in the United States during the 1800s. Dr. Bitter's advocacy for the full integration of Deaf people into mainstream society was unwavering, and he saw speech as the means to achieve this (Baldwin, 1990).
Dr. Bitter's commitment to oral interpreting and teaching is evident through his nationwide public appearances. He conducted workshops for oral interpreters at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Utah. His leadership roles in the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf (AGB) from 1974 to 1978, including serving as the Governmental Relations Committee chairperson and leading the International Parents' Organization, underscore his influence and impact in the field. He also collaborated with the Utah Congressional Team, including Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, further demonstrating his reach and influence.
As a parent of nine children, he worked extensively on several oral education publications, audiovisuals, and videotape products. In 1987, his seminal work, 'The Hearing Impaired: New Perspectives in Educational and Social Management,' was released, marking a significant milestone in oral deaf education.
As a parent of nine children, he worked extensively on several oral education publications, audiovisuals, and videotape products. In 1987, his seminal work, 'The Hearing Impaired: New Perspectives in Educational and Social Management,' was released, marking a significant milestone in oral deaf education.
Lisa Richards' Artwork
Features Dr. Grant B. Bitter
Features Dr. Grant B. Bitter
In 2023, Lisa Richards drew the picture above, reflecting on her experiences growing up during the Bitter era and its impact on the deaf educational system in Utah. She is a former student of the Oral Program at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1960s and 1970s.
A Feud Between
Two Giant Figures
Two Giant Figures
Throughout the 1960s, Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, a 1936 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf and a 1941 graduate of Gallaudet College, observed a decline in the use of sign language in Utah's educational system as spoken language became more popular across the state. Dr. Sanderson's unwavering determination led to his election as president of the National Association of the Deaf in 1964, after serving as president of the Utah Association of the Deaf from 1960 to 1963. In 1965, he began working as a Deaf Services counselor, where he started a courageous fight with Dr. Grant B. Bitter. Dr. Sanderson aimed to raise public awareness about sign language preservation and provide high-quality education for Deaf children (Robert G. Sanderson, personal communication, October 2006).
Dr. Sanderson was considered 'gutsy' by the Deaf community, and his fearless personality led him to challenge Dr. Bitter, who had power and influence in the university and legislation promoting the oral approach to deaf education. Hundreds of parents who advocated for oral education also backed Dr. Bitter. Dr. Sanderson's repeated confrontation with Dr. Bitter enraged him and his supporters, leading them to demand Dr. Avaad Rigby, Dr. Sanderson's boss, fire him. Dr. Rigby refused, recognizing the importance of his work. The state recently hired him as a Deaf Services counselor, highlighting his significant value to Utah. Dr. Rigby's support for Dr. Sanderson's numerous political activities outside of work also strengthened their alliance (Robert G. Sanderson, personal communication, October 2006; Stewart, DSDHH Newsletter, April 2012, p. 3). The Bitter-Sanderson conflict also mirrored the historic clash between Dr. Edward Gallaudet, the esteemed president of Gallaudet College, and Alexander Graham Bell in the 1800s. Dr. Gallaudet championed sign language, while Bell fervently advocated for speech and lip-reading.
Dr. Sanderson was considered 'gutsy' by the Deaf community, and his fearless personality led him to challenge Dr. Bitter, who had power and influence in the university and legislation promoting the oral approach to deaf education. Hundreds of parents who advocated for oral education also backed Dr. Bitter. Dr. Sanderson's repeated confrontation with Dr. Bitter enraged him and his supporters, leading them to demand Dr. Avaad Rigby, Dr. Sanderson's boss, fire him. Dr. Rigby refused, recognizing the importance of his work. The state recently hired him as a Deaf Services counselor, highlighting his significant value to Utah. Dr. Rigby's support for Dr. Sanderson's numerous political activities outside of work also strengthened their alliance (Robert G. Sanderson, personal communication, October 2006; Stewart, DSDHH Newsletter, April 2012, p. 3). The Bitter-Sanderson conflict also mirrored the historic clash between Dr. Edward Gallaudet, the esteemed president of Gallaudet College, and Alexander Graham Bell in the 1800s. Dr. Gallaudet championed sign language, while Bell fervently advocated for speech and lip-reading.
Suffice it to say, Dr. Bitter was a prominent figure in Utah's oralism and mainstreaming movement, which has had a significant impact on deaf education in Utah since 1962. As a result of his efforts, the number of students attending Ogden's residential school for Deaf students decreased, and the quality of education also declined. The mainstreaming approach gained popularity but left many alums heartbroken. He also had significant power as a parental figure and used it to push for oralism, making it difficult for the Utah Association for the Deaf to challenge him. When the Teacher Preparation Program in the Department of Special Education at the University of Utah closed in 1986, he retired in 1987 (Bitter, A Summary Report for Tenure, March 15, 1985). Today, the Department of Special Education at the University of Utah offers a Specialization in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program. While the curriculum does include American Sign Language classes, it still places a greater emphasis on Listening and Spoken Language. This reflects the impact that Dr. Bitter, who passed away in 2000, continues to have on deaf education in Utah. To learn more about the evolving mainstreaming movement, visit the 'Dr. Robert G. Sanderson's Mainstreaming Perspective' webpage.
A Collection of
Dr. Grant B. Bitter's Videos
When my colleague, Julie Hesterman Smith, an interpreter, and I were cleaning out an old cabinet at work, we were thrilled to discover the videos made by Dr. Grant B. Bitter during my study of him and his impact on deaf education in Utah. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to our interpreters, especially Julie, who put a lot of effort into captioning the videos. In 2011, they spent numerous hours listening to the recordings and creating caption transcripts. Unfortunately, Julie lost the transcripts when her computer crashed, and she had to start from scratch again. She remained committed and completed the transcripts. In 2012, we uploaded the videos to YouTube. Thanks to her dedication, we can watch Dr. Bitter's videos and the oral panelists, including his daughter Colleen. Although we made every effort to provide accurate captioning, please note that minor errors may occur due to the low quality of the video and the difficulty in understanding some of the panelists.
We hope you enjoy watching the videos!
Julie Hesterman Smith & Jodi Becker Kinner
We hope you enjoy watching the videos!
Julie Hesterman Smith & Jodi Becker Kinner
Includes interviews conducted by oral deaf education advocate and U of U instructor, Dr. Bitter with Arthur Simon, Sue DeHaan, Elaine. Includes questions about each individual's educational background.
Provides perspectives from deaf individuals who primarily communicate through speech and speech reading on situations when they would utilize an interpreter or other supports i.e. note taker. Dr. Bitter moderates the discussion at the University of Utah in 1983.
This video was filmed in Dr. Grant Bitter's Special Education 540 class, in May 1987. There is a panel of deaf individuals discussing their preferences regarding speech reading and oral interpreting.
This video was recorded in May 1987 at the University of Utah in ED 540. Instructor Dr. Grant Bitter facilitates a panel of deaf adults discussing their educational background, speech reading, and preferences regarding oral interpreters.
This video was recorded in May 1987 at the University of Utah in ED 540. Instructor Dr. Grant Bitter facilitates a panel of deaf adults discussing their educational background, speech reading, and preferences regarding oral interpreters.