When my dad and I decided to make this website, we knew we needed a good name. We wanted something that would be easy to remember, but also meaningful. That's when my dad told me about a really cool lady named Mabel Gardiner Hubbard Bell. When I learned her story, I knew right away that we had to name our website after her!
Who Was Mabel Gardiner Hubbard Bell?
Mabel was born in 1857 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When she was just five years old, she got really sick with a disease called scarlet fever. The fever was so bad that it damaged her hearing, and she became completely deaf. Back then, there weren't hearing aids like we have today, and many people didn't think deaf children could learn to speak or do much of anything.
But Mabel's family didn't give up on her. Her father, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, was a lawyer and a really determined person. He and Mabel's mother worked hard to find teachers who could help Mabel learn to speak and read lips. This was really unusual for the time - most deaf children were sent to special schools where they only learned sign language.
Mabel worked incredibly hard. She learned to read lips so well that many people didn't even know she was deaf when they met her. She could speak clearly and communicate with anyone. Her parents' dedication and her own hard work showed that deaf children could achieve amazing things.
Meeting Alexander Graham Bell
Here's where the story gets really cool! When Mabel was a teenager, she met a young teacher named Alexander Graham Bell. You might recognize that name - he's the person who invented the telephone! But before he invented the telephone, Alexander was a teacher for deaf students. He was fascinated by sound and speech, partly because both his mother and his wife were deaf.
Alexander and Mabel fell in love and got married in 1877. They were married for 45 years and had four children together. Throughout their marriage, Mabel was Alexander's biggest supporter. She encouraged him in all his inventions and projects. But she was also a leader in her own right.
Mabel's Accomplishments
Mabel wasn't just "Alexander Graham Bell's wife." She was an amazing person who did incredible things:
- She was a businesswoman. Mabel was one of the first women to serve on a corporate board of directors in the United States.
- She was a philanthropist. Mabel used her wealth and influence to help others. She founded the Young Ladies Club of Baddeck, which helped improve education and community life in Nova Scotia.
- She was a gardener and naturalist. Mabel loved nature and created beautiful gardens. She worked to preserve the natural environment around her homes.
- She was an advocate for deaf education. Mabel supported schools and programs that helped deaf children learn to speak and communicate.
- She was a mother and grandmother. Mabel raised four children and was a loving grandmother to many grandchildren.
What I love most about Mabel is that she never let her deafness stop her from doing anything. She traveled the world, met famous people, led organizations, and made a real difference in people's lives. She proved that being deaf didn't mean being limited.
Why "GoMabel"?
When I was trying to think of a name for this website, I wanted something that would inspire other DHH kids like me. My dad suggested we name it after Mabel because she represents everything we want this website to be about:
- Determination: Mabel never gave up, even when things were hard. Learning to speak and read lips took years of practice, but she did it.
- Achievement: Mabel didn't just survive - she thrived. She became a leader, a mother, and a philanthropist.
- Support: Mabel had a family that believed in her and helped her succeed. That's what we want to help other families do.
- Going forward: The "Go" in GoMabel means moving forward, making progress, and not letting anything hold you back.
Every time you visit GoMabel.com, I hope you remember Mabel's story. She lived over 150 years ago, but her spirit of determination and achievement is still inspiring DHH kids today - including me!
What Mabel Means to Me
Learning about Mabel made me feel really proud to be Hard of Hearing. Sometimes I feel different from other kids, and that can be hard. But when I think about Mabel and everything she accomplished, I feel like I can do anything too.
Mabel lived in a time when people didn't expect much from deaf children. But she proved everyone wrong. Today, we have so many more resources - hearing aids, cochlear implants, speech therapy, and supportive schools. If Mabel could do so much with so little help, imagine what we can do today!
So that's why this website is called GoMabel. It's a reminder to all of us - DHH kids, parents, and families - to keep going, keep trying, and keep believing in ourselves. Just like Mabel did.
Go, Mabel! And go, you!