Page "Martha's Vineyard" Paragraph 27

Mixed marriages between deaf and hearing spouses comprised 65 % of all deaf marriages on the island in the late 19th century, ( higher than the mainland average of 20 %) and Martha's Vineyard Sign Language ( MVSL ) was commonly used by hearing residents as well as deaf ones until the middle of the 20th century.

This allowed deaf residents to smoothly integrate into society.