Deaf Actors and Actresses Cast on All My Children

[Miss-Delectable]

Deaf Actors and Actresses Cast on All My Children

All My Children will cast deaf actors and actresses surrounding a storyline about a toddler who becomes deaf as a result of a car accident, it was announced by Brian Frons, president Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group. As the parents cope with their son's condition, they will explore a variety of medical options, including Cochlear implants. In the episode to air on August 15, the show will introduce Walter Novak, its first deaf character for this story arc, who will be played by Bob Hiltermann, a deaf actor.

"This storyline gives us the opportunity to explore the emotional challenges and real-life decisions facing the parents of a child who has been permanently injured. We will go on a heart wrenching journey with our characters as they learn about the current medical options and obstacles facing their child who has become deaf. In the tradition of All My Children's hallmark storytelling, this is a story of strength, love and hope," says executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers.

One Life to Live star Kassie DePaiva has been consulting with All My Children, sharing her real life experiences raising her son, James Quentin ("JQ"), who was born profoundly deaf. At the age of 18 months, JQ received his first Cochlear implant, and received a second implant at the age of eight.

JQ is now 10 years old and attends mainstream schooling. As a part of All My Children ongoing commitment to this topic, JQ will guest star in episodes featuring Erica Kane's (Susan Lucci) talk show, New Beginnings, which will be dedicated to the theme of deaf children.

These episodes are set to air on September 20, 21 and 24. The show will also produce episodes featuring support groups for parents with deaf children. Deaf actors and actors who have received Cochlear implants will be cast in all applicable roles. The show will be consulting with the League for the Hard of Hearing and will air PSAs is support of the organization.

All My Children has established itself as a leader in daytime dramas as one that educates through entertaining. Over the past three decades, viewers have watched the characters deal with both social and personal issues, including abortion, HIV and AIDS, substance abuse, eating disorders and many more. In 2000, television history was made when All My Children became the first daytime drama to incorporate a lesbian character as a contract role. In 2003 another historic moment was made when the show aired daytime television's first same-sex kiss between two women in a loving relationship. In 2007 the show became the first to chronicle the coming out story of a transgender character.

All My Children celebrated its 37th Anniversary on January 5, 2007. The program has successfully maintained its popularity and continues to be one of daytime's most compelling dramas. All My Children took home the 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, the third time the show received this top honor, having also garnered the award in 1994 and 1992. In 2004 the show also received its third consecutive Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Writing, its third Writers Guild Award and its fourth GLAAD Media Award in March 2007.

 

[javapride]

I hope they explore MORE than just CI not always all will b e applicable but to EXPLORE and be more INFORMED as rather to just * rush* the storyline and decide one factor, CI which isn't always the case some people's chances of CI may or may not be successful so every area SHOULD be explored. I was born deaf and i have a hearing aid that i use ALL my life, i went to speech therapy but have always maintained that I am deaf and thats the way it is, i chose not to have CI on me even tho i am a candidate i chose not to do this. I want to be me as a person i have a prosthesis eye ( glass eye) but that's just about ALL i will contain with. I rather be a person with integrity BUT i do respect those who have CI because it is THEIR choice NOT mine and NOT the people who says it is better. Its always IMO important to be informed rather than make one sided decision.

 

[Bebonang]

I hope they explore MORE than just CI not always all will b e applicable but to EXPLORE and be more INFORMED as rather to just * rush* the storyline and decide one factor, CI which isn't always the case some people's chances of CI may or may not be successful so every area SHOULD be explored. I was born deaf and i have a hearing aid that i use ALL my life, i went to speech therapy but have always maintained that I am deaf and thats the way it is, i chose not to have CI on me even tho i am a candidate i chose not to do this. I want to be me as a person i have a prosthesis eye ( glass eye) but that's just about ALL i will contain with. I rather be a person with integrity BUT i do respect those who have CI because it is THEIR choice NOT mine and NOT the people who says it is better. Its always IMO important to be informed rather than make one sided decision.

I agree with you one hundred percent. I don't know why hearing people think that CI can make it a lot clearer than the hearing aid. It is not true. We are still deaf, period....but alas having All My Children on the show I hope the hearing parents will be able to understand that trying to make the child hearing with medical magic will not help the deaf be normal with perfect hearing. That's ridiculous! I do hope we will have some deaf actors and deaf actress that will help the hearing parents understand why we need asl and other special needs to help us understand whether at school or/and at home.

 

[sara1981]

i love being as acting when im young but i wanted acting no matter for me what i wanted it

but im been acting as cook woman called the Annie at my old school but i never took theatres classes to learn about that.But im really love making movie or television what im really wanted it makes my family proud.