I began acting on stage when I was 7 years old. My first role was as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' at Chicago's Center on Deafness in Northbrook, Illinois.
I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that through my example, such as my role on 'The West Wing,' I can help change attitudes on deafness and prove we can really do everything... except hear.
We are constantly searching out events and things where we can interact with deaf people or learn more about deafness and deaf education.
I actually think the deafness makes you see clearer. If you can't hear, you somehow see.
Let your deafness no longer be a secret - even in art.
What senses do we lack that we cannot see or hear another world all around us?
(Lead poisoning) does cause some neurological problems, but it's almost always in the extremities, in the arms and legs primarily. There have been a couple of cases of deafness caused by lead poisoning but it's very rare, so I think it's a long shot.
Blindness separates people from things; deafness separates people from people.
Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.
My words are a whisper, your deafness a shout.