Final answer:
Alice Cogswell, who became deaf due to a fever, is noted for being the first student at the American School for the Deaf, founded by Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. He and Alice are commemorated in a statue that emphasizes the importance of ASL and deaf culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question is referring to Alice Cogswell, who became deaf from a fever and was the first student at the American School for the Deaf. This school was founded by Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, depicted in a bronze memorial statue teaching Alice Cogswell sign language. This historical narrative underscores the significance of education for the deaf and highlights the development of American Sign Language (ASL), as a revolutionary method of communication and education for deaf individuals. Ensuring access to language and learning through sign language represented an important development in deaf culture in the United States.