Laurent, South Dakota

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Laurent was a proposed planned community in McCook County, South Dakota designed for deaf, hard of hearing and other sign language users. The town is named after Laurent Clerc; its initial inhabitants had initially planned to move in during the year 2008.

The project was started by Marvin T. Miller, a former journalist, who is himself deaf. He claimed that the financing for the construction of the town, which will encompass an area of 1.3 square kilometres, was secured by a combination of Miller's own funds and a group of private investors. At least 158 families allegedly remain on a waiting list to move into the town.

The project is being criticised by several groups, particularly the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, who have argued that persons with "disabilities" should integrate into society rather than form an enclave. The project had also run into resistance locally (likely due to ongoing biases and perception against the deaf).

The project also has received letters of support from several organizations including the National Association of the Deaf.

As of summer 2007, the key people involved with this project have relocated to Indiana; no further plans nor progress have been apparent since.

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