We've changed the world a bit and people are looking at us differently.
In an interview ABC News, Daniel Durant described being a young boy in Minnesota and looking to Marlee Matlin as inspiration. After a decade of ever-growing success on series television, stage, screen, and now Dancing With The Stars, Durant is mindful that young Deaf eyes are on him: “I want to see the younger generation chase their dreams.”
Highlighting the small number of parents of Deaf children who learn American Sign Language, Daniel emphasized the importance of ASL in the linguistic, social, and educational experiences of Deaf children. He described the commitment of The Moms to learn to sign (they are that cool … they are capitalized).
80% of hearing parents with Deaf children don't sign, and it impacts how their children grow up.
Daniel noted that sign language is a key element in the bond he has with his family—an experience that is reflected in research. ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips was raised in a home where sign language and Deaf people were familiar. Several of her family members were involved in careers in Deaf Education. Phillips used her platform on the show to highlight the importance of ASL, and Daniel’s efforts to ensure that Deaf children have the opportunities thrive in way that he has.
The impact of what he is doing goes far beyond the movie theatre. — Kyra Phillips
Tune in to Dancing With The Stars live each Monday on Disney Plus (8 pm, eastern). Be sure to vote each week!
Don’t have Disney Plus? You can still vote while the show is airing live.
Vote via text or on the Disney website. Each person has ten votes via text, and ten via the website – each week.
Visit the DWTS Hub for one-click voting during the live stream (even if you’re not watching).
Previews and recaps each week, too.
Danny McDougall, PhD, CSC — “Dr. Danny” — owns and manages TerpTheatre. Since 1986, he has interpreted in hundreds of plays, musicals and other performances on stage – most in the shadowed style. He teaches and lectures on the theory and practice of theatre interpreting. Danny is the chair of Sign Language Studies at Madonna University, and holds a PhD in Translation and Interpretation from Heriot-Watt University – where his dissertation explored the relationship between space and meaning during interpreted theatre performances.