Wirelessly posted (Blackberry Bold )
Talk about damned if you do, damned if you don't !!
Is the show "perfect"? No (but no show ever is!!)
They made a massive point of hiring Deaf for Deaf (Katie leClerc is Hoh - but she's also said that because of the meniere's sometimes she's functionally deaf even using her HAs because meniere's causing massive hearing fluctuations. In many ways Katie is like me - depending on the day and situation,I'm anywhere from "just hoh" to "functionally deaf". Her character was born hearing and after becoming deaf was initially oral (until meeting Emmett and his mom) so YES she's a good speechreader ... But she also learned ASL & became part of and proud of the Deaf community early on and IS Deaf.
S@B has gone out of it's way to show massive amounts of ASL and Deaf culture, while also showing that there are many faces to being hoh,deaf & Deaf.
They've created a show where being Deaf is part of the characters identities, while also intentionally showing that we as hoh/deaf/Deaf are MORE than "just deaf" - we have many of the same hopes, dreams, challenges, social issues etc as hearing people ... Being Deaf is an important part of "us" but is is NOT the whole us. They show that "teens are teens" - facing the same issues if they're hearing or deaf. That parents are parents - if their children are hearing, deaf or both.
It's utterly ridiculous to think that with a largely Deaf cast which includes people like Sean B & Marlee M that the writers don't have access to people to ask about cultural issues - really, do you think that Culturally Deaf actors aren't going to say "this isn't right, or this would be better like this" is they read something in the script that doesn't make sense from a Deaf point of view? Somehow I doubt the cast would go "this is all wrong, it gives people the wrong message,but ok".
We as the Deaf community would be far better off supporting S@Bs efforts and supplying positive constructive suggestions, instead of nitpicking and childishly "complaining" about even thing that we personally see as "not right" compared to our own experiences.
The goal of this show is to introduce Deaf culture to those who don't think it even exists ...to show that being deaf isn't a tragedy, just a difference, and that we CAN do anything.
S@B is NOT a documentary, its a tv show. It's meant to make people see that while our Deafness is part of us, we aren't so very different or isolated as many hearing people my think.
For those who are Culturally Deaf from birth and want to make sure there are DODA etc consultants giving input on the show - email and ask if you can volunteer as a consultant. Either offer to HELP, or have faith that the many culturally Hoh/Deaf cast members (and additional ASL Masters) are already making sure that the Deaf Voice is being heard during scripting and filming.
We want MORE shows like S@B Featuring ASL ...ripping apart the first show to do this because it's not perfect doesn't help us achieve that goal