Miss-Delectable
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Her goal: Provide a York Fair concert experience for the deaf - York Dispatch
Deb Moul shares the Toyota Grandstand with many of her favorite country music artists at the York Fair each year.
Moul's audience, however, is the deaf community in the crowd, as she interprets sign language at many of the grandstand performances.
The 49-year-old Hellam woman has been interpreting at the fair for 10 years, and said "it's a very rewarding experience that also has perks."
Although Moul is not deaf, she "grew up in a home where (sign language) was my first language," she said, noting both of her parents were deaf. She said
she taught her daughter sign language at a young age as well.
Rewarding experience: She said she finds signing at the concerts rewarding because of her family background.
"To be able to give the deaf community something that they cannot hear is a good feeling," she said.
Thus far, Moul interpreted sign language for this year's Lady Antebellum and Selena Gomez concerts at the fair. She will also interpret for the Jason Aldean concert Friday and for Saturday's show by comedian Terry Fator.
"I typically don't interpret hard rock concerts, although I have signed rock in the past," she said. "Country is definitely my favorite, and I always sign for those performances."
The fair offers the interpretation service as a courtesy, even if there isn't a deaf individual in the crowd, fair president Gene Schenck said.
"As far as I know, there are no legal requirements for us to provide the (interpreting) service. We've been doing it for years willingly for our deaf attendees," he said.
However, if a deaf person plans to attend a concert and contacts the fairgrounds, an interpreter can be provided, he said.
"And if it's at a concert I'm not already working, I would provide my service," Moul said.
Interpreting sign language "comes naturally," to Moul, and she said "it doesn't feel like it's a job."
Moul is an educational interpreter at Dallastown Area High School through Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12, but also keeps busy with on-call freelance interpreting such as translating for deaf patients in York-area hospitals.
"Every year the York Fair is a chance to experience two things I love, country music and interpreting sign language," she said.
Thankful crowd: Moul isn't sure exactly how many individuals she signs for at each fair performance, but said she generally has at least one deaf person come up to her at the end of a concert to thank her.
In fact, even country music star, Trace Adkins and comedian Larry the Cable Guy thanked Moul for her service at their performances.
"Trace Adkins has been at the fair a few different times that I've interpreted, and he always gave me a hug and kiss at the end of his show to thank me," Moul said.
How she does it: In order to prepare for the fair's concerts each year, Moul said she generally purchases the music of the artists she is interpreting.
However, she wears headphones at each performance, which enables only vocals to be heard, "making my job easy because if I can hear it, I can put it out (to the audience)," she said.
"Just because deaf people cannot necessarily hear the lyrics, they still love music," she said.
The music is "so loud and powerful" at the concerts that the deaf are still able to feel and hear the beats of the music, Moul said.
"When you add in my interpretation of the lyrics to the beat and overall atmosphere of the performance, it's a beautiful experience for the deaf community," she said.
Deb Moul shares the Toyota Grandstand with many of her favorite country music artists at the York Fair each year.
Moul's audience, however, is the deaf community in the crowd, as she interprets sign language at many of the grandstand performances.
The 49-year-old Hellam woman has been interpreting at the fair for 10 years, and said "it's a very rewarding experience that also has perks."
Although Moul is not deaf, she "grew up in a home where (sign language) was my first language," she said, noting both of her parents were deaf. She said
she taught her daughter sign language at a young age as well.
Rewarding experience: She said she finds signing at the concerts rewarding because of her family background.
"To be able to give the deaf community something that they cannot hear is a good feeling," she said.
Thus far, Moul interpreted sign language for this year's Lady Antebellum and Selena Gomez concerts at the fair. She will also interpret for the Jason Aldean concert Friday and for Saturday's show by comedian Terry Fator.
"I typically don't interpret hard rock concerts, although I have signed rock in the past," she said. "Country is definitely my favorite, and I always sign for those performances."
The fair offers the interpretation service as a courtesy, even if there isn't a deaf individual in the crowd, fair president Gene Schenck said.
"As far as I know, there are no legal requirements for us to provide the (interpreting) service. We've been doing it for years willingly for our deaf attendees," he said.
However, if a deaf person plans to attend a concert and contacts the fairgrounds, an interpreter can be provided, he said.
"And if it's at a concert I'm not already working, I would provide my service," Moul said.
Interpreting sign language "comes naturally," to Moul, and she said "it doesn't feel like it's a job."
Moul is an educational interpreter at Dallastown Area High School through Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12, but also keeps busy with on-call freelance interpreting such as translating for deaf patients in York-area hospitals.
"Every year the York Fair is a chance to experience two things I love, country music and interpreting sign language," she said.
Thankful crowd: Moul isn't sure exactly how many individuals she signs for at each fair performance, but said she generally has at least one deaf person come up to her at the end of a concert to thank her.
In fact, even country music star, Trace Adkins and comedian Larry the Cable Guy thanked Moul for her service at their performances.
"Trace Adkins has been at the fair a few different times that I've interpreted, and he always gave me a hug and kiss at the end of his show to thank me," Moul said.
How she does it: In order to prepare for the fair's concerts each year, Moul said she generally purchases the music of the artists she is interpreting.
However, she wears headphones at each performance, which enables only vocals to be heard, "making my job easy because if I can hear it, I can put it out (to the audience)," she said.
"Just because deaf people cannot necessarily hear the lyrics, they still love music," she said.
The music is "so loud and powerful" at the concerts that the deaf are still able to feel and hear the beats of the music, Moul said.
"When you add in my interpretation of the lyrics to the beat and overall atmosphere of the performance, it's a beautiful experience for the deaf community," she said.