Sarah Fuller (February 15, 1836 – August 1, 1927) was a pioneering American educator whose work transformed the teaching of speech to deaf children.
Born in Weston, Massachusetts, Fuller pursued her education at West Newton English and Classical School, graduating in 1855. She began her career as a teacher in Newton and Boston before training at the Clarke School for the Deaf in 1869 under Harriet B. Rogers. That same year, she was appointed principal of the newly established Boston School for Deaf-Mutes, founded at the request of Rev. Dexter S. King.
In 1871, Fuller and her staff received training from Alexander Graham Bell in teaching deaf children how to speak—a revolutionary approach at the time. She became a strong advocate for early education for deaf children, firmly believing that speech instruction should begin as soon as possible. Fuller was also present for a historic moment: the transmission of the first message over the telephone.
Her influence extended beyond the classroom. In 1890, she applied Bell’s methods to give Helen Keller her first speech lessons, helping to open new avenues of communication for the renowned activist. Fuller also contributed to the field through her 1888 publication, An Illustrated Primer for Teachers of the Deaf. That same year, she helped establish the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf, later becoming its director in 1896. She furthered her advocacy by founding the Home for Little Deaf Children in 1902, before retiring as principal in 1910.
Sarah Fuller passed away in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts, and was laid to rest in Saint Mary’s Cemetery. Her legacy endured through the Sarah Fuller Foundation for Little Deaf Children (1888–1972), ensuring her impact on deaf education would be remembered for generations.
