History of RISD

Founded in 1876, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf (RISD) has been a cornerstone of Deaf education for nearly 150 years. Established by the Rhode Island General Assembly, RISD was created to provide a free and accessible education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children across the state. Over the decades, RISD has grown into a vibrant bilingual community, embracing American Sign Language (ASL) and English to support students’ academic and personal growth. Today, RISD continues its legacy as a leader in Deaf education, proudly serving students from preschool through high school.