Initially established as the Kentucky Asylum for the Tuition of the Deaf and Dumb in 1823, the Kentucky School for the Deaf is the very first state-sponsored school with such specialization in the United States. Thanks to the concern of a Kentucky state senator, General Elias Barbee, whose daughter is deaf, the school was created through a legislation written by the senator, and supported by former Kentucky governor John Adair. The money to finance the construction of a building was from Henry Clay who helped in gaining two federal land grants that were sold to get the money needed to fund the project.

Today, the Kentucky School for the Deaf is an educational institution providing services to elementary and high school children.