Miss-Delectable
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http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/07/27/dm/sussex_county/dsn04.txt
At all of the concerts and comedy shows in the grandstand at the Delaware State Fair this year, a woman dressed in black stands onstage with the performers.
She is not a daring fan who sneaked past security to get on stage, and she does not work for any of the famous entertainers.
The woman, Dawn Dionne, is a sign language interpreter.
She dresses in black so her clothes contrast with her skin, making her hand movements easy for people in the audience to see.
"It is unbelievable," Ms. Dionne said of interpreting for musicians such as Yellowcard, Gretchen Wilson and the Beach Boys.
She makes it possible for the hearing impaired to understand the performers' lyrics.
On her first night at the state fair, the Denton, Md., resident interpreted for comedian Larry the Cable Guy - a challenge, because there was no script to follow along with.
Ms. Dionne said Larry even included her in his act.
After saying an inappropriate word on stage, he looked over at her expectantly.
"I just looked at him, nodded my head and said, 'No, I'm not interpreting that,' " she recalled with a laugh.
Ms. Dionne said she was glad the comedian noticed she was there interpreting for the deaf community - and the audience "got a kick" out of their banter.
"I'm actually having a lot of fun with it too," she said.
But Ms. Dionne said deaf people in the audience look to her for more than hand motions during concerts.
She explained that she has to express the meaning of songs using her facial expressions, which is how deaf people show their feelings.
"To do that with a song, you can convey emotions almost more than you could with words," she said.
"Sign language is a beautiful, expressive language."
Ms. Dionne said most bands provide a set list of songs they will play, so she can look up the lyrics and keep them with her onstage.
State fair spokeswoman Tricia Southard said the fair has used an interpreter for several years.
"We received an inquiry from someone in the deaf community, and we took the initiative" to accommodate them, she said.
According to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, public venues are required to provide an interpreter for people with hearing impairments.
Ms. Dionne said she became inspired to learn sign language because of two men she met while working at Eastern Airlines in Miami.
"There were two mechanics working there in the wheel room who were deaf and I noticed no one ever talked to them," she said.
"People just wrote them notes and I thought that was sad."
Ms. Dionne said she wrote the men a note, too - asking them if they would help her learn their language.
"They brought me a book of signs for the alphabet and I went home and practiced in front of the mirror all night," she recalled.
Ms. Dionne said many people have noticed her work at the Delaware State Fair.
She said after the Larry the Cable Guy show, she noticed a man trying to get her attention as she waited for her ride home.
"I guess the gal he was with was deaf," Ms. Dionne said.
"She signed to me, 'Good job,' and 'Thank you.' "
At all of the concerts and comedy shows in the grandstand at the Delaware State Fair this year, a woman dressed in black stands onstage with the performers.
She is not a daring fan who sneaked past security to get on stage, and she does not work for any of the famous entertainers.
The woman, Dawn Dionne, is a sign language interpreter.
She dresses in black so her clothes contrast with her skin, making her hand movements easy for people in the audience to see.
"It is unbelievable," Ms. Dionne said of interpreting for musicians such as Yellowcard, Gretchen Wilson and the Beach Boys.
She makes it possible for the hearing impaired to understand the performers' lyrics.
On her first night at the state fair, the Denton, Md., resident interpreted for comedian Larry the Cable Guy - a challenge, because there was no script to follow along with.
Ms. Dionne said Larry even included her in his act.
After saying an inappropriate word on stage, he looked over at her expectantly.
"I just looked at him, nodded my head and said, 'No, I'm not interpreting that,' " she recalled with a laugh.
Ms. Dionne said she was glad the comedian noticed she was there interpreting for the deaf community - and the audience "got a kick" out of their banter.
"I'm actually having a lot of fun with it too," she said.
But Ms. Dionne said deaf people in the audience look to her for more than hand motions during concerts.
She explained that she has to express the meaning of songs using her facial expressions, which is how deaf people show their feelings.
"To do that with a song, you can convey emotions almost more than you could with words," she said.
"Sign language is a beautiful, expressive language."
Ms. Dionne said most bands provide a set list of songs they will play, so she can look up the lyrics and keep them with her onstage.
State fair spokeswoman Tricia Southard said the fair has used an interpreter for several years.
"We received an inquiry from someone in the deaf community, and we took the initiative" to accommodate them, she said.
According to Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, public venues are required to provide an interpreter for people with hearing impairments.
Ms. Dionne said she became inspired to learn sign language because of two men she met while working at Eastern Airlines in Miami.
"There were two mechanics working there in the wheel room who were deaf and I noticed no one ever talked to them," she said.
"People just wrote them notes and I thought that was sad."
Ms. Dionne said she wrote the men a note, too - asking them if they would help her learn their language.
"They brought me a book of signs for the alphabet and I went home and practiced in front of the mirror all night," she recalled.
Ms. Dionne said many people have noticed her work at the Delaware State Fair.
She said after the Larry the Cable Guy show, she noticed a man trying to get her attention as she waited for her ride home.
"I guess the gal he was with was deaf," Ms. Dionne said.
"She signed to me, 'Good job,' and 'Thank you.' "