Laurent (South Dakota)

Laurent is an originally planned in McCook County, South Dakota settlement for the deaf, hard of hearing and other sign language -use people. It is named after Laurent Clerc, an American pioneer of sign language, named.

The project is an initiative of Marvin Miller, a deaf former journalist. The city is said to include 130 acres and can accommodate 2,500 people. According to Miller, the financing of the project through its private funds and the group is backed by private investors. According to a CNN report already waiting 125 families on the entry into the city, to be started in 2007.

The project has been criticized by various quarters. So represents around " Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing " in Washington, D. C., the view that " the more people [ benefits ] if they are part of the whole world " (New York Times, quoted dpa in an announcement dated 14 October 2005) than when they form an enclave.

In early 2007 gave the initiators of the project known to want to realize this rather than in South Dakota in Indiana.