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Andrew Jackson Foster Father of Deaf Education in Africa Kelli Rasdorf, Kelli Rasdorf, Stacia Sanders Stacia Sanders & Nikki Hart & Nikki Hart

A Quick Biography Born on June 27,1925 in Birmingham, Alabama. Born on June 27,1925 in Birmingham, Alabama. Father was a coal miner. Father was a coal miner. Attended public school until age 11. Attended public school until age 11. Contracted spinal meningitis, and became completely deaf. Contracted spinal meningitis, and became completely deaf.

Early Education Attended Alabama School for Colored Deaf in Talladega. Attended Alabama School for Colored Deaf in Talladega. At age 17 his parents moved to Detroit, MI. At age 17 his parents moved to Detroit, MI. Worked in a factory during World War II and took night school classes. Worked in a factory during World War II and took night school classes.

Higher Education After the war he got his diploma in Accountancy and Business Administration from the Detroit Institute of Commerce. After the war he got his diploma in Accountancy and Business Administration from the Detroit Institute of Commerce. In 1951 he became the first Black student to attend Gallaudet College. In 1951 he became the first Black student to attend Gallaudet College.

Higher Education Cont. He graduated in 1954 with a B.A. degree in Education. He graduated in 1954 with a B.A. degree in Education. In 1955 he received a masters in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University. In 1955 he received a masters in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University. In 1956 he received a degree in Christian Missions from Seattle Pacific College. In 1956 he received a degree in Christian Missions from Seattle Pacific College.

African Crusade In 1956 he founded the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans. In 1956 he founded the Christian Mission for Deaf Africans. In 1957 he opened the Accra Mission School for the Deaf in Accra, Ghana. In 1957 he opened the Accra Mission School for the Deaf in Accra, Ghana. After five years, he moved on to Nigeria and trained teachers. After five years, he moved on to Nigeria and trained teachers.

African Crusade Cont. By 1974 with the help of others, there were more than 70 schools established for the deaf in Africa. By 1974 with the help of others, there were more than 70 schools established for the deaf in Africa. He also founded the African Bible College for the Deaf. He also founded the African Bible College for the Deaf.

African Schools for the Deaf 1957 Accra, Ghana 1957 Accra, Ghana 1957 Accra, Ghana (Adult) 1957 Accra, Ghana (Adult) 1960 Ibadan, Nigeria 1960 Ibadan, Nigeria 1962 Enugu-Nsukka, Nigeria 1962 Enugu-Nsukka, Nigeria 1962 Kaduna, Nigeria 1962 Kaduna, Nigeria 1973 Center in Ibadan, Nigeria 1973 Center in Ibadan, Nigeria 1974 Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1974 Abidjan, Ivory Coast 1976 Lome, Togo 1976 Lome, Togo 1976 Mondou, Chad 1976 Mondou, Chad 1977 Dakar, Senegal 1977 Dakar, Senegal 1977 Cotonou, Benin 1977 Cotonou, Benin 1977 Kumba, Cameroon 1977 Kumba, Cameroon 1977 Bangui, Central Africa Republic 1977 Bangui, Central Africa Republic 1979 Kinshasa, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1979 Kinshasa, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1980 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1980 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1981 Bujumbura, Burundi 1981 Bujumbura, Burundi 1982 Liberville, Gabon 1982 Liberville, Gabon 1982 Bunia-Nyankunde, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1982 Bunia-Nyankunde, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1983 Lubumbashi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1983 Lubumbashi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1983 Kalemie, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1983 Kalemie, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1983 Bobo Dioulassa, Burkina Faso 1983 Bobo Dioulassa, Burkina Faso 1984 Bukavu, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1984 Bukavu, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Likasi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Likasi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Goma, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Goma, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Kolwezi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Kolwezi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Kamina, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Kamina, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Mbuji-Mayi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1985 Mbuji-Mayi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1986 Matadi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1986 Matadi, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1986 N'Djamena, Chad 1986 N'Djamena, Chad 1987 Kisangani, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1987 Kisangani, Dem.Rep. of Congo 1987 Sarh, Chad 1987 Sarh, Chad 1987 Gemena, Chad 1987 Gemena, Chad

Lifetime Achievements In 1970 Gallaudet granted him an honorary doctor of humane letter in recognition of his accomplishment. In 1970 Gallaudet granted him an honorary doctor of humane letter in recognition of his accomplishment. He was the first black person to receive that honor. He was the first black person to receive that honor.

Untimely Death On December 3, 1987 Foster was killed in a plane crash on his way to Kenya. On December 3, 1987 Foster was killed in a plane crash on his way to Kenya. He was buried in Rwanda. He was buried in Rwanda.

Gallaudet honors Andrew Foster In 2004 the National Black Deaf Advocate presented Gallaudet with a bust of Foster by Virginia Cox. In 2004 the National Black Deaf Advocate presented Gallaudet with a bust of Foster by Virginia Cox. In 2004 Andrew Foster Auditorium was dedicated. In 2004 Andrew Foster Auditorium was dedicated. An Andrew Foster Scholarship was begun for Black Deaf students. An Andrew Foster Scholarship was begun for Black Deaf students.

Andrew Foster is to Africa what Thomas Gallaudet is to the U.S. – Gabriel Adepoju

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