Marlee Matlin: An Inspiring Contemporary Deaf Figure
Throughout the past few decades, there have been many outstanding deaf actors and actresses. Among them is Marlee Matlin. Marlee Matlin was born on August 24, 1965, in the suburb of Morton Grove, Illinois. At the age of 18 months, she lost hearing in her right ear and eighty percent of her hearing in the other due to an illness and high fevers. Her parents grieved over the loss of her hearing and refused to send her to a deaf school. Instead, they learned some sign language and put Marlee into special programs for students with hearing loss. Although, Marlee’s parents learned some sign language, they encouraged her to use her voice in addition to ASL.
Marlee first was introduced into acting …show more content…
She is not only the youngest person to win an Oscar, but also the first deaf person to win it. Marlee is also one of the few first deaf people to make this big of an impact in the acting industry. Despite being deaf, Marlee made a career out of acting and writing. She also made a sign language app! Marlee is inspiring to many because of her determination to make a career out of something she loved. When Marlee was asked to present an award, a year after receiving her Oscar, she signed half of it and spoke the rest. This caused some distastefulness ion the deaf community. Again, despite the comments of her community, Marlee raised up. She not only won an Oscar, but also a Golden Globe and a few Emmy nominations. Marlee sets the bar for deaf people and gives them the confidence to break the stereotypes. In addition to her busy acting career, writing career, and app, Marlee also donates to several charities. I chose Marlee because she did not let her ability to not hear stop her from achieving her dreams. She is and always will be an excellent role model for not only young deaf and hard of hearing children, but also for aspiring deaf and hard of hearing actors and actresses trying to make it in the tough
Throughout the past few decades, there have been many outstanding deaf actors and actresses. Among them is Marlee Matlin. Marlee Matlin was born on August 24, 1965, in the suburb of Morton Grove, Illinois. At the age of 18 months, she lost hearing in her right ear and eighty percent of her hearing in the other due to an illness and high fevers. Her parents grieved over the loss of her hearing and refused to send her to a deaf school. Instead, they learned some sign language and put Marlee into special programs for students with hearing loss. Although, Marlee’s parents learned some sign language, they encouraged her to use her voice in addition to ASL.
Marlee first was introduced into acting …show more content…
She is not only the youngest person to win an Oscar, but also the first deaf person to win it. Marlee is also one of the few first deaf people to make this big of an impact in the acting industry. Despite being deaf, Marlee made a career out of acting and writing. She also made a sign language app! Marlee is inspiring to many because of her determination to make a career out of something she loved. When Marlee was asked to present an award, a year after receiving her Oscar, she signed half of it and spoke the rest. This caused some distastefulness ion the deaf community. Again, despite the comments of her community, Marlee raised up. She not only won an Oscar, but also a Golden Globe and a few Emmy nominations. Marlee sets the bar for deaf people and gives them the confidence to break the stereotypes. In addition to her busy acting career, writing career, and app, Marlee also donates to several charities. I chose Marlee because she did not let her ability to not hear stop her from achieving her dreams. She is and always will be an excellent role model for not only young deaf and hard of hearing children, but also for aspiring deaf and hard of hearing actors and actresses trying to make it in the tough