Final answer:
Following William Stokoe's linguistic research proving the legitimacy of American Sign Language, there was an increased acceptance of ASL, advancement of deaf education, and more scholarly research into sign languages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asked pertains to the consequences of the work of William Stokoe, but the provided reference text seems to be unrelated, discussing a separate historical event involving an attempted escape by slaves and their subsequent examination and imprisonment. William Stokoe was a linguist whose research in the mid-20th century proved that American Sign Language (ASL) was a legitimate language with its own syntax and grammar, rather than a collection of gestures or broken English. After Stokoe's work was published, it changed perceptions about sign language and deaf culture, leading to a greater acceptance of ASL as a language and improving education for the deaf. Universities started to offer courses in ASL, and scholars began to study sign languages as serious linguistic systems.
His works spurred further research in the field, increased educational opportunities for deaf individuals, and significantly advanced the understanding and acceptance of sign language in educational and social contexts. Therefore, the actions people took after William Stokoe's provings were largely aimed at improving deaf education and the linguistic study of sign languages.