A voice out of the silence

Miss-Delectable · 10-15-2009, 02:16 AM

A voice out of the silence courierpress.com Mobile

Marlee Matlin spoke to hundreds of people in Evansville on Tuesday night without saying a word.

The actress and activist, who lost her hearing when she was 18 months old, signed her way through the Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series at The Centre.

Her message to Evansville was simple: No one person is better than anyone else.

"I'd like everyone to know that no one is perfect," Matlin said through an interpreter.

"We all have our own abilities or disabilities, however you want to look at it."

Matlin told the crowd that she's been overcoming stereotypes her entire life.

"My biggest challenge is attitude barriers. And I break through them. I make noise."

Matlin was making noise even as a child.

When she was younger and kids would make fun of her hearing aid, Matlin said, her dad told her to tell the kids that it was a big blob of bubble gum.

"And when kids made fun of my speaking, my brothers came to my defense," Matlin said.

"They said, 'Our sister just has a strange accent because our parents are foreign spies.'"

Even Hollywood had its doubts, the actress admitted.

But Matlin's career has spanned 23 years. She's had roles on "Seinfeld," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," "West Wing" and "Nip/Tuck," among others.

She also played a deaf woman in the film "Children of a Lesser God," which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress at age 21.

"It's been 23 years since Hollywood pronounced my career DOA, dead on arrival, and I'm still here," Matlin said.

In fact, the actress and mother of four said, she was talking to Fox executives that very night about a possible series she'd be starring in.

Matlin made it clear to the audience that the only thing she can't do is hear.

"I proved that when I danced on (the television show) 'Dancing With the Stars.' I'm just a person who happens to be deaf."

Kirby Morton and nine of her classmates traveled 21/2 hours from Carterville, Ill., to see Matlin.

"I love Marlee. I think she's fantastic," Morton said.

Morton is an interpreting student at John A. Logan College.

She is close to becoming a certified interpreter in American Sign Language.

Brooke Walters of Evansville attended the lecture for a different reason.

"I have minor hearing loss myself," Walters said.

"I thought that it would be fascinating to hear Marlee's perspective on the issue."

Walters said she feels very fortunate that Evansville is incorporating such intellectual and diverse opportunities.

10-15-2009, 02:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 10,244 Blog Entries: 3	A voice out of the silence A voice out of the silence courierpress.com Mobile Marlee Matlin spoke to hundreds of people in Evansville on Tuesday night without saying a word. The actress and activist, who lost her hearing when she was 18 months old, signed her way through the Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series at The Centre. Her message to Evansville was simple: No one person is better than anyone else. "I'd like everyone to know that no one is perfect," Matlin said through an interpreter. "We all have our own abilities or disabilities, however you want to look at it." Matlin told the crowd that she's been overcoming stereotypes her entire life. "My biggest challenge is attitude barriers. And I break through them. I make noise." Matlin was making noise even as a child. When she was younger and kids would make fun of her hearing aid, Matlin said, her dad told her to tell the kids that it was a big blob of bubble gum. "And when kids made fun of my speaking, my brothers came to my defense," Matlin said. "They said, 'Our sister just has a strange accent because our parents are foreign spies.'" Even Hollywood had its doubts, the actress admitted. But Matlin's career has spanned 23 years. She's had roles on "Seinfeld," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," "West Wing" and "Nip/Tuck," among others. She also played a deaf woman in the film "Children of a Lesser God," which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress at age 21. "It's been 23 years since Hollywood pronounced my career DOA, dead on arrival, and I'm still here," Matlin said. In fact, the actress and mother of four said, she was talking to Fox executives that very night about a possible series she'd be starring in. Matlin made it clear to the audience that the only thing she can't do is hear. "I proved that when I danced on (the television show) 'Dancing With the Stars.' I'm just a person who happens to be deaf." Kirby Morton and nine of her classmates traveled 21/2 hours from Carterville, Ill., to see Matlin. "I love Marlee. I think she's fantastic," Morton said. Morton is an interpreting student at John A. Logan College. She is close to becoming a certified interpreter in American Sign Language. Brooke Walters of Evansville attended the lecture for a different reason. "I have minor hearing loss myself," Walters said. "I thought that it would be fascinating to hear Marlee's perspective on the issue." Walters said she feels very fortunate that Evansville is incorporating such intellectual and diverse opportunities. __________________

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