The art of communicating with others, as exemplified by the use of speech and language, is one of the most unique characteristics of mankind. Ours is a talking world. A child without the ability to speak so others can understand is unable to adjust to this world and to live a satisfactory life. Until fairly recently, children who were born deaf were also mute; children with cerebral palsy were thought to be idiots, objects of scorn, shame, and aversion; children who were mentally deficient were considered uneducable and were institutionalized. Only within the past few years has an organized attempt been made to educate or to train these children.
