How sign language can bring music to life

Summary

This video script narrates the journey of a sign language interpreter specializing in music, emphasizing the sensory and emotional experiences of deaf individuals with music. It explores the importance of music in the speaker's life, the challenges faced by the deaf community in accessing communication and cultural experiences, and the need for societal understanding and inclusion. The speaker passionately advocates for the deaf community's right to full access in all aspects of life, including entertainment and emergency broadcasts, and the significance of early sign language acquisition for both deaf and hearing babies.

Takeaways

• 🎵 The speaker is a sign language interpreter who specializes in music interpreting, a job that often surprises people who assume deaf individuals cannot experience music.
• 🧠 Studies have shown that deaf people can feel and interact with music, which engages the auditory cortex and stimulates a chemical reaction in the brain, similar to hearing people.
• 💕 Music holds a deep personal significance for the speaker, evoking memories of family and friends and providing a sense of connection and belonging.
• 🌐 The speaker experienced a shift in perspective after becoming deaf at the age of 20, gaining a new understanding of the Deaf community and culture.
• 🚫 The speaker challenges the assumption that deaf people do not enjoy or have a connection to music, emphasizing that music is a universal human experience.
• 🤝 The speaker's work involves collaborating with the deaf community to make music visual through sign language, aiming to provide a more authentic musical experience for deaf audiences.
• 🤔 The speaker highlights the ongoing struggle for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to secure proper access to communication in various aspects of life, including entertainment and emergency situations.
• 🙅‍♂️ The speaker criticizes the lack of understanding and empathy from hearing individuals who make decisions about access for the deaf community without proper knowledge or connection.
• 👶 The speaker points out the early challenges faced by deaf children, including the pressure to conform to hearing society's norms and the lack of early sign language exposure.
• 🌟 The speaker envisions a future where the deaf community is not silenced and has equal access to opportunities, including employment and social inclusion.
• 🗣️ The speaker encourages openness to understanding and accommodating the diverse communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing, advocating for a more inclusive society.

Q & A

What is the speaker's profession?

The speaker is a sign language interpreter who specializes in music interpreting.

Why do people often question the speaker's profession?

People question the speaker's profession because they wonder why deaf people would have an interest in music if they can't hear it.

What have studies found about deaf people's experience with music?

Studies have found that when deaf people feel music, it interacts with the auditory cortex and can lead to a chemical reaction that raises dopamine and lowers cortisol in both hearing and deaf individuals.

How does music play a significant role in the speaker's life?

Music is significant to the speaker as it connects them to important people in their life and important experiences, acting as a form of emotional and cultural connection.

What was the speaker's experience with homelessness?

The speaker became homeless after being kicked out, having to quit school, and turning to drugs and gang associations due to feeling rejected at home.

How did the speaker's perspective on music change after becoming hearing at the age of 20?

The speaker's perspective changed as they gained a new label and were welcomed into the Deaf world, leading them to see music as an essential part of the Deaf community's culture and language.

What motivated the speaker to study ASL and work with the deaf community?

The speaker was motivated by their own experiences with hearing loss and a desire to fight for access and understanding, as well as their connection to deaf individuals throughout their life.

Why is the speaker passionate about making music visual for the deaf community?

The speaker is passionate about making music visual because they believe that music is an experience that should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to hear.

What challenges do deaf and hard of hearing people face in accessing communication?

Deaf and hard of hearing people face challenges such as fighting for their basic right to communication in various aspects of life, including medical appointments, counseling sessions, and educational settings.

What was the issue with the emergency broadcast from the Florida news station before Hurricane Irma?

The issue was that an unqualified signer was chosen to communicate life-saving information, resulting in the signing of incomprehensible information and silencing the deaf community's voice.

What is the speaker's vision for a more inclusive world?

The speaker envisions a limitless world where the deaf community is not unemployed due to their hearing loss, where everyone feels welcome, and where people recognize that everyone is born with different abilities, not disabilities.