Final answer:
Without the Milan Conference, sign languages might have remained central in deaf education, possibly leading to greater cultural autonomy and less discrimination for deaf individuals, affecting their social progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the Milan Conference had not taken place, the education and social progress of deaf individuals would likely have been significantly different. This pivotal conference in 1880 had a profound impact by promoting the use of oralism over sign language, consequently shaping the instruction methods for the deaf worldwide.
Without this event, it is plausible that sign languages would have retained a more prominent role in education, potentially leading to a different level of integration and acceptance of deaf culture within society. Furthermore, the absence of the strict adherence to oralism could have fostered a more inclusive attitude towards bilingual education, with both sign language and spoken language being valued in the upbringing and education of deaf children. Consequently, advancements in deaf education might have followed a different trajectory, perhaps even avoiding the marginalization that occurred due to the conference's resolutions.
The counterfactual scenario suggests that without the Milan Conference's influence, deaf individuals might have enjoyed greater cultural autonomy and possibly encountered less discrimination, leading to a unique cultural landscape in this aspect of history.