Who is considered the father of American Sign Language (ASL)?

The question asks who is considered the father of ASL (American Sign Language).

• Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was a pioneer in the education of the deaf in the United States. He co-founded the first permanent school for the deaf in North America, the American Asylum for Deaf-Mutes (now the American School for the Deaf), in 1817. He traveled to Europe to learn methods for teaching the deaf and brought Laurent Clerc, a deaf French teacher, back to America. Their collaboration led to the development of American Sign Language, combining French Sign Language with existing local sign languages. Gallaudet is widely recognized as the father of American education for the deaf and a foundational figure in the development of ASL.
• Laurent Clerc was a deaf French teacher who came to America with Gallaudet and was instrumental in teaching sign language and establishing the school. He brought French Sign Language, which significantly influenced ASL.
• Helen Keller was a deaf-blind author and political activist, but not a founder of ASL.
• Washington is not associated with the founding of ASL in this context.

Based on historical accounts, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet is widely considered the "father of ASL" due to his pivotal role in establishing the first school for the deaf and fostering the environment where ASL developed.

The correct option is Gallaudet.

The final answer is $\text{Gallaudet}$