‘Switched at Birth’: ABC Family’s The teen soap Switched at Birth explores self-expression and the communication gulf between the hearing and Deaf communities.
Melody gives an impassioned lecture about how it’s not about hearing loss, it’s about Deaf gain, of a language, a community, and a culture.
When Marlee Matlin walked away with an Academy Award for her heart-wrenching turn as a Deaf custodian in 1986’s romantic drama Children of a Lesser God, it seemed as though film had finally encountered a definitive depiction of a Deaf individual and the often tenuous relationship between the hearing and the Deaf worlds. Television has lagged behind; nearly 30 years later, most TV shows still typically shove Deaf characters into the background or use them as props as part of a hearing person’s story.
A deft and intelligent take on the way in which we form our identities through self-expression, whether that be street art, spoken/signed communication, texting, or open dialogue among family members and individuals, as well as the communication gulf between the hearing and deaf/hard-of-hearing communities. It’s also a show that doesn’t pander to its presumed audience. Semantics “Deaf” and “hard-of-hearing” are OK; “hearing-impaired” is not and ethical implications, as well as morality and choice, are discussed frankly and without preaching. ... visit: https://www.facebook.com/SwitchedatBirth
"ASL is a Gift" is a poem written by Julie Rems-Smario and translated by Deanne Bray. Final revision of ASL translation on September 21, 2012. It was June 2012 when Wayne Betts gave one small suggestion in adding something to ASL. He signed SI5S. I expanded on that idea and made this version into the translation that I am fully content and will stick to this. Here is my ASL translation of ASL is a GIFT in American Sign Language. Happy Autumn!
Westchester Newsday - Croton woman hosts talk show for the Deaf.
Television is a visual medium, but most talk shows just aren’t the same on mute. One Croton-on-Hudson woman is turning the traditional interview format on its head by telling her guests to talk with their hands.
Independent producer Aidan Mack has teamed up with White Plains Community Media (WPCM) to produce “The Aidan Mack Show,” in which Mack interviews guests exclusively in American Sign Language. The show will be one of the first of its kind designed specifically for Deaf audiences.
“I realized that I wanted to reach a larger audience, the hearing community, and work with them to become more comfortable interacting with Deaf people, regardless of language differences,” she said. “At the same time, I also want to dispel the misconceptions and myths about Deaf people, and show that Deaf people do live normal lives like everyone else.”
TORONTO - (SPORTSNET UFC) - Another hill for Hamill to climb at UFC 152. Matt (The Hammer) Hamill makes his return to the Octagon at UFC 152 against Canadian Roger Hollett. It is Hamill's return to the UFC after a year-long retirement, and is just one more challenge for the 35-year-old who was spent his entire existence on this planet defying the odds.
Hamill broke through to the public consciousness during season three of The Ultimate Fighter, the season that featured Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock as coaches and was eventually won by Michael Bisping. Viewers were enthralled with Hamill's story, being the only Deaf fighter to compete under the UFC banner.
Hamill was a freestyle wrestler who won gold and silver medals at the Deaflympics, and had only started training in MMA a mere six months before being cast for the show. Viewers not only loved his “Rudy”-like inspirational story, but also enjoyed his interactions with his coach Ortiz, who admitted Hamill “reminds me a bit of me.”
Video: Whitney Meyer Deaf figure skater - Silence isn't all that I am.
Deaf figure skater and actress, Whitney Meyer, in a short film directed by Jason Hastings. A top 10 selection of the Shanghai International Film Festival Pepsi Short Film Competition.
Movie Trailer: 'Deaf Night and The Movies' in captioned.
Lance Pickett and Sean Christopher teamed up to produce and direct this adventurous film exploring three tales:
The Deaf Cow where a cursed spell spoken by an evil witch upon a Milkman's farm and his Deaf cow, Deaf vs. Mafia narrates an interesting new perspective on the famed Deaf folk tale "The Deaf Mafia" and why Interpreters can't be trusted, and Deaf and Addicted unfolds what really happens when a Deaf man enters the wrong place at the wrong time during a Deaf Addiction counseling session. Hosted by the great storyteller and born n' raised CODA, Wing Butler!
Over 90 minutes of pure entertainment for your entire family! You'll be humored, surprised, and mystified by these clever plots! Acted and created by a team of over 60 members of the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing communities; making this the largest Deaf production ever made in the State of Utah!
'Coming Home' Mark, a young Deaf man, adopted by hearing parents, is determined to uncover the truth about his past but in so doing reveals family secret.
ABC Family's 'Switched at Birth' seen as good sign.
WALNUT CREEK, CA. - Olivia Stein, a 17-year-old student at California School for the Deaf in Fremont, Calif., can probably count on one hand how many times she has seen someone like herself beaming from a television screen.
"It allows us to be more involved. We can relate. We're finally seeing people like us," she said through a sign-language interpreter. "And it's showing the world that Deaf people are cool. We rock."
"Switched at Birth" doesn't focus solely on deafness the soapy twists and turns cover a wide terrain. But it does explore several pertinent Deaf issues, including communication and societal barriers, speech therapy and the debate over cochlear implants.
It also makes extensive use of sign language, subtitles and something very rare in this era of pop-cultural clatter: Moments of utter silence... Read more:
Video: Famous Deaf Person Presentation on Chuck Baird Biography in American Sign Language.
Synopsis: This is about an artist, Chuck Baird documenting and expressing his journey with social changes through an era. He witnesses several social and cultural changes in the Deaf World as early as 1950s. Chuck overcomes his struggle with his own Deaf identity until he completes his commission works. Chuck was one of few founding members of the established De'VIA art movement.
Written, Directed & Produced by Tracey Salaway, A Fisheye Visual Arts Production in association with Salaway Films Production, Chuck Baird Foundation for the Visual Arts and Gallaudet University Art Department.
Video: This is the best art performance by Deaf people.
The video of the Chinese Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe, "Thousand-hand Guan Yin" Guan Yin is a Chinese goddess. Feeling music through speakers and guided by hand gestures, a troupe of Deaf dancers in Beijing, China take steps to champion the rights of disabled people across the world.
"Being Deafness, these disabled female performers endure pain and suffering in vigorous training, simply to deliver a message of love to mankind. "
Guanyin or Kwanyin (aka), the Goddess of Mercy also known by Westerners as the Chinese Goddess of love and compassion has long occupied a unique place not only in Buddhism, but also in Chinese culture. The Chinese word "Guanyin is an abbreviation of "Guan shi yin" which denotes" seeing the voice of the world if rendered literally. Such a deity can be called as the deity who looks in every direction or the "Regarder of the cries of suffering beings".
According to legend, Guanyin, the youngest daughter of a king, defied her father when he sought a husband for her. The angry king sent her away to a monastery with instructions that she should be compelled to obey. This only strengthened her resolve. So the king set fire to the monastery and ordered her execution when she was caught sitting erect reciting sutras. As she was about to be beheaded, the sword broke into two and a tiger from nowhere carried her away to a forest.
One day from afar she saw the king was sick and not responding to treatment, so she severed her arms and eyes to sacrifice them for him. The grieved king besought heaven and earth to make his daughter whole again. Soon, Guanyin had arms and eyes by the thousand, and bowing before her father, she urged him to practise good deeds to which the king readily agreed.
Actually legends have Guanyin in various forms. But the story of the Goddess in this one-thousand-hand form has had an immense appeal. Thus the thousand-hand deity is no longer an exclusive religious symbol but has become a popular cultural icon to religious followers and common folks alike.
The legendary Thousand-hand Guanyin as interpreted by the special artists plucked the heartstrings of the audience. In their rendition of the legendary goddess, they not only demonstrated their superb dancing skills in perfect unison with elegant and forceful movements, but attained a ye higher level to turn it into a live myth full of artistic appeal and stirring power on the stage.
Though we only saw one leading dancer on the stage, we saw in our mind's eye a whole collective where 21 troupe members fused together as one human being with one shared heart. What we saw on the stage was the one Thousand-hand Guanyin, serene, holy and beautiful, that existed in each of the dancers' hearts. While enjoying the colourful performance, we experienced a profound sense of tranquility and composure, a process of cleansing and purification of our souls.
We spetators can hardly imagine how much time and effort these artists must have invested in bringing about such a unique work of art. And only a collective with all its crew members bound together in unity, harmony and friendliness could make it.
The image of the Thousand-hand Guanyin is symbolic of maternal love and infinite compassion.
And the enlightenment we gain from the performance itself is that people with disabilities are also creators of both material and spiritual wealth. Such a spirit of perseverance in pursuing and creating a better life in the face of adversity should be followed by all of us.
Any copyrighted material in this video is copied for educational purposes only !
Video: Deaf UFC Fighter - "The Hammer" - Official Teaser.
Hamill is now "The Hammer"! The movie is the true story of Deaf UFC Fighter, Matt Hamill. The captions are provided in the video promo so that hearing and Deaf audiences can experience the film together.
- All the Deaf characters are played by Deaf actors.
- The movie is 1/3 in sign language and 2/3 in English, which is why there are subtitles throughout, so that Deaf and hearing audiences can watch the movie together.
- Russell Harvard (who plays Matt), played Daniel Day Lewis' son in There Will Be Blood.
- Shoshannah Stern (who plays Kristi) was Bonnie on Jericho, and a prominent figure in the first season of Weeds.
- UFC Fighter Rich Franklin who plays one of Matt's wrestling coaches, actually fought and beat Matt Hamill IN 2008.
- Mark Hamill (of Luke Skywalker fame) is not in the movie.
Matt “The Hammer” Hamill and Clay “The Carpenter” Guida. .... business ventures outside the UFC including “Hamill” the movie based on my life story ... were able to see a man with a physical handicap, (Matt Hamill is Deaf) flourish in a sport ...: http://www.matthamill.com
Other names, The Hammer. Nationality, American ... Born in Loveland, Ohio, Hamill was Deaf from birth. He was introduced ... Hamill is the subject of an upcoming movie entitled Hamill about his early life and wrestling career ...: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Hamill
Video: UFC 130 - Matt Hamill Profile - Mentally Tough in captioned.
The film is the inspirational story of Hamill, who was born Deaf. Hear what made Hamill so strong and where he is testing his limits during this training camp. Hamill will have the biggest fight of his career.
