Neil J. McDevitt, 鈥�96, had the honor of introducing President Biden at a Disability Pride Month event on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday, September 9. McDevitt had already accepted an invitation to attend this event the week before. In a moment of inspiration, he contacted the White House鈥檚 Senior Advisor on Disability and offered to say a few words. Subsequently, he was asked not just to say a few words, but to introduce the President!

This triggered for McDevitt and his wife Sarah a flurry of activity leading up to the event 鈥� writing his remarks, rearranging their schedules, selecting attire, and planning their drive to Washington on Monday morning. They spent their afternoon and evening at the White House, where an ASL interpreter and a military aide were assigned to them. Surprisingly, the military aide was the ASL-fluent brother of a Gallaudet alumnus.

After several rehearsals, walk-throughs, and a receiving line, they had the opportunity to engage in conversation with President Biden. Sarah McDevitt, E-鈥�96, told the President that she, like First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, was a teacher, and they engaged in animated conversation for several minutes thereafter. Biden then turned to Neil McDevitt and said, 鈥淵ou and I have something in common 鈥� we both married way up!鈥�   

McDevitt and the President then walked out of the White House together, and McDevitt delivered his remarks flawlessly.

McDevitt is the elected mayor of North Wales, Pennsylvania, a borough 25 miles north of Philadelphia with a population of 3,400. He is believed to be the first deaf person to be elected mayor of a municipality in modern times. He is also executive director of, a nonprofit organization that provides communication access services, education, and advocacy throughout the greater Philadelphia area.

Read more about Neil McDevitt.