British sign language poet Dorothy Miles, who inspired the whole world despite being deaf at age 8, shared that her parents played a vital role in her career’s success.
Dorothy Miles was born on 19 August 1931 in Holywell, Flintshire, North Wales, to British parents father James and mother Amy Squire. As per the report, Dorothy Miles has four siblings and was the youngest among her parent’s five children.
At birth, Dorothy Miles’s health was perfect, and she did not have any disabilities; however, in 1939, after she contracted cerebrospinal meningitis, which is an infection and inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, it took away her hearing ability leaving her deaf at age 8.
Remembering poet and activist, Dorothy Miles. #DorothyMiles pic.twitter.com/0x7IxzBoKD
— Jake with the Ob (@mnralphie) August 20, 2024
However, despite her challenging condition, she did not lose hope. She continued working on her progress while continuing her education at the Royal School for the Deaf and the Mary Hare School.
Dorothy Miles was not alone in her struggle; her parents and siblings stood by her, providing enormous hope, support, and encouragement.
Now, Dorothy Miles has become a key figure in the literary heritage of sign language and the deaf community.
Dorothy Miles passed away after struggling with mental health, as the report suggested her having manic depression
Even though Dorothy Miles gained massive success in her career, dedicating most of her life to the deaf community and fighting for their rights, she herself was struggling with mental health problems.
Dorothy Miles married Robert Thomas Miles in September 1958 at the age of 27. They were classmates who began their relationship after finding a deep connection.
GOOGLE | A través de su doodle, Google eligió homenajear a la poeta y activista Dorothy Miles. ¿Quién fue? https://t.co/kBJyk7Fz3R
— Infocielo (@infocielo) August 19, 2024
However, their relationship did not last long, as the couple separated in 1959, just a year after their marriage.
It looks like the couple had no children, as no sources have suggested Dorothy Miles having any.
Further, after separating from her first husband, Dorothy Miles did not get married again and decided to live alone for the rest of her life, dedicating herself to deaf communities.
Similarly, Dorothy Miles, a woman who had stood up for the whole deaf community, felt alone in her old age, fighting with her depression secretly for years.
Today's Google Doodle is celebrating Dorothy Miles; a Welsh Poet and Deaf Community Activist! Many thanks to the Deaf Guest Artist, Youmee Lee, and Google for doing this. Read more at: https://t.co/UT6uY3z9sV#google #GoogleDoodle #grateful pic.twitter.com/xGfIsE5QIm
— Center On Deafness Inland Empire (@CODIEdeaf) August 19, 2024
Sources claimed that Dorothy Miles took her life by jumping off from the window of her apartment’s second floor on 30 January 1993 in London, England, after struggling with manic depression. At the time of her demise, she was just 61 years old.
In honor of the pioneer of BSL poetry, Google Doodle released a post celebrating Dorothy Miles’s achievements on her 93rd birthday.
Additional Information
- Dorothy Miles composed various English, British Sign Language, and American Sign Language poems. Further, her decade-long work in the deaf community laid the foundations for modern sign language poetry in the USA and UK.
- In April 2024, Purple Plaque, which aims to install plaques on buildings to increase recognition of women who have significantly impacted Walse, also unveiled Miles’s childhood home, 27 Westbourne Avenue.
- She graduated with a BA with distinction in 1961 and worked as a teacher and counselor for deaf adults in the USA after graduation.
