On Monday, March 4th, the television show ‘Switched at Birth’ did something on mainstream TV that had never been done before. It ran an episode in sign language. Some viewers thought at first that the sound on their television was broken.
The show is an ABC Family drama that revolves around two teenagers who were switched at birth, one of whom is Deaf.
According to ABC Family, it is the first television series to have multiple Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing series regulars, and scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language.
Marlee Matlin guest stars. Because of this, the series not only exposes the American public to the Deaf community, it also has the power to educate us about important related issues: last week’s ASL episode focused on the failure of the American education system to serve many Deaf students who find themselves there because their own schools have closed.
The main story of ‘Switched at Birth's’ ASL episode focuses on the closing of such a school, and the protest created by the students to keep it open. Many students who are Deaf want to study in a school designed for them, where they can communicate directly with teachers and counselors, interact directly with their peers and participate fully in extracurricular activities – things most hearing students take for granted. ...Read more: http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/if-only-it-were-just-tv-schools-deaf-are-closing
‘Switched at Birth's’ ASL episode information: http://www.tvrage.com/Switched_at_Birth
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