The Handicap Of Deafness Is Not In

There Are So Many People, Deaf Or Otherwise Abled, Who Are So Talented But Overlooked Or Not Given A Chance To Even Get Their Foot In The Door.

There Are Many Deaf People Who Couldn't Imagine Living In A Marriage Without Someone Who Doesn't Speak Their Language. For Me, I Believe That Hearing Or Deaf Is Fine As Long As Both Parties Are Willing To Communicate In Each Other's Language. But If There's No Communication, Then The Marriage, I Believe, Will Be Difficult If Not Doomed.

I Grew Up In The Suburbs Of Chicago, And In Spite Of What Most People Might Have Expected From A Young Girl Growing Up Deaf, Life For Me Was Like One Long Episode Of The Brady Bunch. Despite Whatever Barriers Were In My Way, I Imagined Myself As Marcia Brady Skating Down The Street Saying “hi” To Everyone, Whether They Knew Me Or Not.

I Have Made The Choices That Work Best For Me. I Know I Cannot Please Everyone, And That's Fine.

I Hope That Through My Example, Such As My Role On 'the West Wing,' I Can Help Change Attitudes On Deafness And Prove We Can Really Do Everything... Except Hear.