Videos of Experiences Growing Up
at the Utah School for the Deaf
and Public School
at the Utah School for the Deaf
and Public School
Compiled & Written by Jodi Christel Becker
Published in 2018
Updated in 2025
Published in 2018
Updated in 2025
Author's Note
I'm excited to share the videos featuring the experiences of Deaf individuals growing up at the Utah School for the Deaf or in public schools. Each journey is unique and deserves to be highlighted, as they reflect their struggles, determination, and incredible resilience. Let’s come together to celebrate their stories!
Jodi Christel Becker
Jodi Christel Becker
Marion Brown West
Marion Brown West has shared her memories of her time at the Utah School for the Deaf during the 1940s. She graduated from the school in 1949 and later joined Gallaudet College, where she graduated in 1950. Marion enjoyed a successful career with the Bureau of Land Management before retiring. Even now, she likes to keep up with the Utah School for the Deaf on social media. Marion has fond memories of her teachers, who provided individualized instruction and an excellent education. If you need closed captions, please click CC. This video was filmed by USDB and was posted on October 19, 2018.
Lisa Richards Roush
On February 24, 2020, Lisa Richards Roush shared a video recounting her formative years in the oral program of the Extension Division at the Utah School for the Deaf. This was during the 1960s and 1970s, a time when Dr. Grant B. Bitter was a leading proponent of oral and mainstream education for Deaf and hard of hearing students. His advocacy led to the establishment of an Extension Division in the Salt Lake area, enabling Deaf children to attend classes closer to their homes. Lisa's experience under Dr. Bitter's influence was challenging, but her decision to share the video is a testament to the therapeutic power of storytelling and its role in preserving Utah's Deaf education history.
