author
W. R. (William Robert) Roe
A Victorian writer and educator, he devoted much of his life to making the world of Deaf children and adults more visible to hearing readers. His books blend storytelling, advocacy, and firsthand experience from years of work in deaf education.
1 Audiobook
Anecdotes & Incidents of the Deaf and Dumb
by W. R. (William Robert) Roe
About the author
Born in Heanor on March 28, 1849, William Robert Roe became a leading figure in deaf education in Derby. Sources about the Midland or Royal Institution for the Deaf and Dumb credit him with founding the institution in 1873, after he began teaching deaf people he had met through his work and community life.
Roe wrote books including Anecdotes & Incidents of the Deaf and Dumb, Poems on the Deaf and Dumb, Snapshots of the Deaf, and Peeps into the Deaf World. These works introduced hearing readers to everyday experiences, challenges, and achievements within Deaf communities, and they reflect his strong interest in education and communication.
He is remembered not only as an author but also as an advocate for deaf learners. Accounts of his work in Derby describe him as a supporter of sign language and finger spelling at a time when methods of deaf education were widely debated, which gives his writing an added sense of purpose and social history.