Deaf President Now! OTT Release: The landmark movement that changed the course of history for the Deaf community is now coming to your screens. Deaf President Now!, a compelling and emotionally charged documentary, is set to release soon on OTT platforms.
The film captures one of the most pivotal civil rights demonstrations in U.S. history, shining a spotlight on the fight for equal representation and inclusion in academic leadership at Gallaudet University—the world’s only university designed specifically for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Deaf President Now! will be available for streaming from the 16th of May on Apple TV+.
Plot
Uncover a powerful and often-overlooked chapter in the history of civil rights with Deaf President Now!, a gripping account of one of the most significant social justice movements that many still don’t know about. Set in 1988 at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.—the only university in the world dedicated entirely to Deaf and hard-of-hearing students—the documentary follows the events of eight tense and transformative days that would go on to shape the future of the Deaf community.
Four determined students lead a campus-wide protest at the heart of the story, becoming its unlikely heroes. When the university’s Board of Trustees announces the appointment of a hearing president over several highly qualified Deaf candidates, frustration and outrage sweep through the student body. For generations, the Deaf community had waited for a leader who could truly represent their lived experiences and culture—someone who would understand them not just academically, but personally and linguistically. The Board’s decision ignites a movement.
These four students—courageous, strategic, and unrelenting—take charge of organizing peaceful demonstrations, galvanizing support from faculty, alumni, and the wider Deaf community. What begins as a spontaneous protest quickly escalates into a full-blown revolution for representation, inclusion, and self-determination. Over eight days, they negotiate, advocate, and march through adversity, calling national attention to their cause.
With high stakes, constant media scrutiny, and mounting pressure from authorities, the students remain unwavering.They deliver a clear message: Deaf people can fully lead their own institutions, make decisions that affect their communities, and claim equal recognition in all aspects of society.