Remembering Dorothy Miles: A Pioneer in Poetry

Today, search engine giant Google is honoring Dorothy Miles, a remarkable poet from Wales who is deaf and known for her groundbreaking work in sign language poetry.

Born on August 19, 1931, Dorothy, who was originally named Dorothy Squire, lost her hearing as a child due to a serious illness. Despite this challenge, she became a passionate advocate for using sign language to express beautiful poetry.

The animated Doodle on Google’s homepage captures her creating the word ‘Google’ with her hands against a backdrop of flowers and a butterfly, celebrating her artistic spirit.

Miles’ contributions go beyond poetry. She was also a teacher, writer, and playwright, and her performances brought sign language to life in vibrant ways. One of her most notable works is her play titled ‘Trouble’s Just Beginning: A Play of Our Own.’

She dedicated her life to promoting inclusive communication, which paved the way for many contemporary sign language poets in both the UK and the US. Her writings included titles like ‘Gestures: Poetry in Sign Language’ and ‘British Sign Language: A Beginner’s Guide.’

After moving to the US at the age of 25 to study at Gallaudet College, Miles expanded her impact on the deaf community. She faced struggles but also achieved significant milestones.

After teaching in New York City, where she noticed kids lacking resources, she founded the Children’s Book Council in 1964 to help underprivileged children get access to books.

Later, she became part of the National Theatre of the Deaf and returned to the UK, establishing a tutor training course to train deaf individuals as BSL teachers.

Despite her successes, Dorothy struggled with mental health issues later in life. Sadly, she passed away in 1993 at the age of 61.

In memory of her legacy, a cultural center was formed by her friends to keep her spirit alive and continue her work in the community.