George H. Balsley II
Longtime Supporter
George was born on July 11, 1949 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Deafness was diagnosed when George was 2 years old in 1951. His hearing parents were shocked and devastated not unlike today’s parents of deaf children.
He went to Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, MA in 1953 at the age of four. His parents dropped him off and went back to their Washington, DC home.
He stayed at Clarke until 1965 when he graduated.
George attended Amherst Regional High School in Amherst, MA. He played soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis and skiing. George was a photographer for the school yearbook. He graduated in 1969.
George then went to Hartwick College in Oneonta. NY. While at Hartwick, he joined Alpha Sigma Phi and majored in American History, graduating in 1973.
From 1969 to 1974, George was a member of Deaf Ski Team and participated in DeafOlympics at Adelboden, Switzerland in which he came in 17th for all three events. He also participated in the World Alpine Ski Championship at Les Arcs, France. Came in 8th in slalom.
George was a foredeck captain in amateur sailing races aboard “Wild Swan” and “Marbella” in ocean races. He was a member of Conanicut Yacht Club in Jamestown, RI.
George went to Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA in 1974, and worked days in architects’ offices and attended classes at nights. He graduated with a bachelor of architecture in 1983.
George got married to Laura in October of 1979.
He became a registered architect in 1987 after passing the 3 1/2 day state exams and became the only deaf architect in New England and New York.
George worked in the field of architecture for over 40 years in all types of building design, core and shell design, production and technical specifications. His diversified background included residential, educational, commercial and healthcare architecture. Using his lifelong experience with deafness, he created a new specialty called “Designing for the Deaf” and worked to incorporate it into the field of universal design. It is a movement that calls for all inclusive design practices.
George has been the presenter of several “Designing for the Deaf” workshops at Build Boston conventions with the Institute for Center of Human Design in Boston, MA. He believes that architects, planners and interior designers must be involved in design practices and principles that consider the disabled’s perspectives and the need for the built environment that encourages social integration, democratic principles and social justice.
He still advocates for universal design approaches that would eliminate physical and visual barriers and to minimize “institutional” characteristics.
His clients included Clarke School, Rhode Island School for the Deaf, Gallaudet University, St. Mary’s School in Buffalo, NY and Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
George has been involved in many area organizations serving the deaf listed below:
- American Institute of Architects. Western Massachusetts Chapter
- Boston Society of Architects
- Austine School for the Deaf
- Clarke School for the Deaf
- Willie Ross School for the Deaf - former Chairman of the Board of Trustees
- Past President of the Clarke School Alumni Association (1983-1993)
- Board Member, D.E.A.F. Inc.
- Institute of Human Centered Design
- Western Massachusetts Association of the Deaf
- Seaport Boston
- Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
George and Laura have lived in Hadley, MA since 1984. They are proud parents of two sons, Nathaniel and Alexander and grandparents of three grandsons, Kamden, Baxley and Ryland. Every one of us are Deaf.
