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Getting Together: Father creates Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries to help other families » Local Business » The Herald Bulletin
When Marshall Lawrence’s daughter, Rachel, was approximately 2 years old, he finally realized she was deaf. Since he, his wife, and his other daughter could hear, the possibility of her disability didn’t even cross their minds.
Plunging them into a culture they knew little about, the family quickly learned that not many resources are produced with deaf children in mind. Rather than simply bemoan their fate, Lawrence established Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries and began creating a program to fill the gap.
“There are very few things on television that deaf children can enjoy,” said Lawrence, executive director. “They can’t read the lips of a talking cucumber or the lips of puppets. And they would have to be a very strong reader to keep up with the closed captioning.”
Because 95 percent of deaf children are born into hearing families, the program, titled “Dr. Wonder’s Workshop,” is created for everyone to enjoy together — whether they are deaf or hearing. This requires many more production steps than a typical program.
First the script is written — primarily by deaf individuals. Deaf child actors learn the script and act it out, translating the words into their own language, American Sign Language. Adults fluent in ASL watch the episode and translate what the actors actually said (noting changes and nuances from the original script), and then voice-overs add dialogue for hearing siblings who don’t know ASL.
“This also gives deaf kids a role model,” said Diane Vosburg, collaborative ministries. “Imagine watching television and never seeing anyone like you at all. They are looking for this connection.”
“Dr. Wonder’s Workshop,” now on most major Christian networks and aired all over the world, was born in Lawrence’s basement in 1996. He took Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries to an office in Indianapolis in 2002, but later moved the nonprofit operation to Anderson in 2009.
Episodes of the weekly 30-minute program focus on Christian lifestyle issues, such as being grateful, honest and dependable. The story is set in an inventor’s lab and features a Bible story, object lesson, original song with deaf writers and interviews with deaf children.
“Only 10 percent of parents with deaf children learn enough ASL to carry on a conversation with their child,” said Lawrence, previously a music evangelist in radio broadcasting. “If their parents can’t sign them a Bible story and the church can’t sign them a Bible story, nobody really can tell them these stories or that God is relevant to them.”
In addition to creating this program, Silent Blessings also raises awareness for the needs of deaf people, helps to establish deaf churches or ministries within churches, and advises the great number of people who email with questions about their struggles.
Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries
1201 E, Fifth St., Suite 11, Anderson
643-1040
Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries
Upcoming classes
Beginning American Sign Language — every Thursday for 11 weeks Jan. 19-March 29; 6-9 p.m.
Level 2 American Sign Language — every Tuesday for 11 weeks Jan. 17-March 27; 6-9 p.m. at Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries Offices
Cost: $100 ($50 for students) plus $65 for textbook with DVD
Call: 643-1040 or email judy@silentblessings.org to sign up
Deadline to register: Jan. 15
Instructor: Melinda Kennedy
When Marshall Lawrence’s daughter, Rachel, was approximately 2 years old, he finally realized she was deaf. Since he, his wife, and his other daughter could hear, the possibility of her disability didn’t even cross their minds.
Plunging them into a culture they knew little about, the family quickly learned that not many resources are produced with deaf children in mind. Rather than simply bemoan their fate, Lawrence established Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries and began creating a program to fill the gap.
“There are very few things on television that deaf children can enjoy,” said Lawrence, executive director. “They can’t read the lips of a talking cucumber or the lips of puppets. And they would have to be a very strong reader to keep up with the closed captioning.”
Because 95 percent of deaf children are born into hearing families, the program, titled “Dr. Wonder’s Workshop,” is created for everyone to enjoy together — whether they are deaf or hearing. This requires many more production steps than a typical program.
First the script is written — primarily by deaf individuals. Deaf child actors learn the script and act it out, translating the words into their own language, American Sign Language. Adults fluent in ASL watch the episode and translate what the actors actually said (noting changes and nuances from the original script), and then voice-overs add dialogue for hearing siblings who don’t know ASL.
“This also gives deaf kids a role model,” said Diane Vosburg, collaborative ministries. “Imagine watching television and never seeing anyone like you at all. They are looking for this connection.”
“Dr. Wonder’s Workshop,” now on most major Christian networks and aired all over the world, was born in Lawrence’s basement in 1996. He took Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries to an office in Indianapolis in 2002, but later moved the nonprofit operation to Anderson in 2009.
Episodes of the weekly 30-minute program focus on Christian lifestyle issues, such as being grateful, honest and dependable. The story is set in an inventor’s lab and features a Bible story, object lesson, original song with deaf writers and interviews with deaf children.
“Only 10 percent of parents with deaf children learn enough ASL to carry on a conversation with their child,” said Lawrence, previously a music evangelist in radio broadcasting. “If their parents can’t sign them a Bible story and the church can’t sign them a Bible story, nobody really can tell them these stories or that God is relevant to them.”
In addition to creating this program, Silent Blessings also raises awareness for the needs of deaf people, helps to establish deaf churches or ministries within churches, and advises the great number of people who email with questions about their struggles.
Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries
1201 E, Fifth St., Suite 11, Anderson
643-1040
Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries
Upcoming classes
Beginning American Sign Language — every Thursday for 11 weeks Jan. 19-March 29; 6-9 p.m.
Level 2 American Sign Language — every Tuesday for 11 weeks Jan. 17-March 27; 6-9 p.m. at Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries Offices
Cost: $100 ($50 for students) plus $65 for textbook with DVD
Call: 643-1040 or email judy@silentblessings.org to sign up
Deadline to register: Jan. 15
Instructor: Melinda Kennedy