Deaf Women WHO Dare to Challenge World!

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Deaf Women WHO Dare to Challenge World!
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Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)

• Harriet Martineau reached out to the world
  through her writings. She was independent,
  ambitious, and sometimes stubborn which are all
  excellent characteristics for a good writer. She
  wrote articles in the newspaper using a mans
  name because of the oppression of women. She
  became deaf during her childhood because of
  constant sickness. Her parents, especially her
  mother, were very strict with Harriet, claiming
  that her behaviors were not like an English lady.
  At the age of 19 years old, Harriet became a
  famous journalist and went on to write about 30
  books and thousands of articles. In her effort
  to make the world a better place, she wrote
  concerning many different issues including her
  own experiences and opinions.

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For more information on Harriet
Martineau http//cepa.newschool.edu/het/profiles/m
artineau.htm http//www.transcendentalists.com/har
riet_martineau.htm http//www.spartacus.schoolnet.
co.uk/Wmartineau.htm http//www.webster.edu/wool
flm/martineau.html
4
Julia Brace (1807-1884)

• Julia lost her vision and hearing around age
  five. In later childhood, she began a long and
  happy life at the Hartford Asylum for the Deaf
  and Dumb. During her residence at Hartford in the
  1830s, she became a celebrity because she was
  able to do so much in spite of not being able to
  see or hear. When she was in her mid-30s, the
  Perkins Institute attempted to give her more
  formal instruction. Unfortunately, because of her
  age she was not able to make much progress, and
  had to return to Hartford.

For more information on Julia Brace http//www.da
rtmouth.edu/library/Library_Bulletin/Nov1992/LB-N
92-Wait.html http//www.famousamericans.net/juliab
race/ http//www.disabilitymuseum.org/lib/docs/173
9.htm?page8 http//www.deafblindinfo.org/people.a
sp
5
Laura Bridgman (1829-1889)

• Laura was born in Hanover, New Hampshire lost her
  hearing and sight at the age of 2 from scarlet
  fever. In 1837, Samuel Howe began meeting with
  her and discovered at the age of 7 that she
  didnt know she had a name. Through much work,
  Laura became the first deaf-blind person ever to
  learn language. She found ways to communicate
  chatting with friends by signing into their
  hands, reading books, and writing letters. In the
  1840's, at the height of her fame, it was said
  that the only better-known female was Queen
  Victoria.

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For more information on Laura Bridgman http//www.
virtualology.com/virtualmuseumofhistory/hallofwome
n/LAURABRIDGMAN.COM/ http//deafness.about.com/cs/
deafblind/a/laurajulia.htm http//www.connsensebul
letin.com/keller.html http//search.eb.com/women/a
rticles/Bridgman_Laura_Dewey.html
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Laura Catherine Redden Searing (1840-1923)

• Laura was a well known writer during the Civil
  War for a magazine titled Reform Nation. She
  became deaf at the age of 10 through an attack of
  spinal meningitis. In her writing she used the
  surname Howard Clyndon because of professional
  oppression towards women at that time. She was a
  well known journalist for America and wrote about
  many different topics such as Abraham Lincoln.
  She strongly supported the union and was an
  ardent Republican.

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For more information on Laura Catherine Redden
Searing http//www.umsystem.edu/whmc/invent/2290.h
tml http//www.msd.k12.mo.us/wheeler/Pages/drama_c
lass.htm http//www.famousamericans.net/lauracathe
rinesearing
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Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low (1860-1927)

• Juliette Gordon Low was born in Georgia, but lost
  her hearing in one ear at the age of 25 because
  of a severe ear infection which was treated
  poorly. A year later at her wedding a grain of
  rice lodged in her good ear and became infected
  which damaged the nerves when it was removed. She
  received her nickname, "Daisy", because she was a
  very stubborn and outspoken person. Juliette
  became very interested in the British Boy Scouts
  and slowly began to start troops for young girls.
  The Girl Scouts were founded in 1912, and when
  she died, there were 167,000 girl scouts. Now,
  there are 3,000,000,000 Girl Scouts across the
  country.

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For more information on Juilette Daisy Gordon
Low http//www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/l
ow_biography/ http//www.factmonster.com/ipka/A090
0539.html http//www.greatwomen.org/women.php?acti
onviewoneid100 http//www.electricscotland.com/
history/america/low.htm http//www.lkwdpl.org/wiho
hio/low-jul.htm
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Helen Keller (1880-1968)

• Helen Keller is probably the most famous deaf and
  blind woman that ever lived. Since she was a
  little girl, she devoted her entire life to
  helping others with similar disabilities. From
  the many books which she wrote to The Miracle
  Worker, a film written on her life, many people
  have been educated and made aware of deafness.
  Many services have been set up and named after
  Helen Keller since her death such as a childrens
  museum, a hospital, services for the blind,
  school for the deaf and blind, and the Helen
  Keller Foundation which researches methods for
  vision care.

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For more information on Helen Keller http//www.r
nib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwe
bsite/public_keller.hcsp http//www.time.com/time/
time100/heroes/profile/keller01.html http//www.af
b.org/braillebug/helen_keller_bio.asp http//www.h
elenkellerfoundation.org/home.html
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Alice of Battenberg (1885-1969)

• Alice of Battenberg was born into the Royal
  British family and was a Princess of England. Her
  full name was Princess Victoria Alice Elizabeth
  Julie Marie. She was born deaf but immediately
  learned how to lip read in English, French, and
  German and later in Greek. She married Henry VIII
  and had the opportunity to travel all around the
  world which became one of her favorite past
  times. Through her life she took care of
  countless orphaned children and affected the
  lives of many.

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For more information on Alice of
Battenberg http//encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/P
rincess_Alice_of_Battenberg http//www.localcolora
rt.com/search/encyclopedia/Princess_Alice_of_Batte
nberg/ http//www.history-europe.com/Alice_Princes
s_Andrew_of_Greece_0312302398.html http//en.wikip
edia.org/wiki/Princess_Alice_of_Battenberg
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Nellie Z. Willhite (1892-1990)

• Nellie was the first deaf individual to earn a
  pilots license. She was born in Box Elder,
  South Dakota and lost her hearing when she was 4
  years old from measles. She participated in many
  air shows and performed many new and dangerous
  tricked which amazed all who watched. Eleanor
  worked as a commercial pilot until she was 52.
  She founded the South Dakota chapter of the
  "Ninety-Nines," a group of pioneering women
  flyers. She was a charter member Amelia Earhart
  was their president.

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• For more information on Nellie Z. Willhite
• http//www.workersforjesus.com/dfi/880.htm
• http//www.augie.edu/cws/telegram.html
• http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCen
  turyWoman/deafwomen.htm

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Regina Olson Hughes (1895-1993)

• Regina Hughes was born in Omaha, Nebraska and
  grew up loving plants. She lost her hearing when
  her family doctor poured sweet oil down her ears
  for her earache, and became deaf at the age of
  13. She knew multiple language such as French,
  Portuguese, Italian, Latin, German, and Romanian.
  Her first job she worked at the U.S. Department
  of Agriculture as a botanical artist,
  illustrating hundreds of pictures of plants. She
  had her drawings of plants published in botanical
  books all over the world. She had her work
  exhibited in many galleries, including the
  Smithsonian. In honor of her accomplishments, she
  got a species of orchid named in her honor,
  hughesia reginue. She received an honorary
  doctorate from Gallaudet in 1967.

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• For more information on Regina Olson Hughes
• http//www.webster.edu/woolflm/martineau.html
• http//p3.csun.edu/p3access/Calendar2001/0201facts
  .html
• http//liblists.wrlc.org/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?ed-
  000-00---0deafbios--00-0-0-0prompt-14-Document---0
  -1l--1-en-10000---20-home---001-001-0-0isoZz-8859Z
  z-1-0adcdeafbiosclCL1.8dHASH01a227e7bd84ff
  6592b959a9

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Frances Woods (1907-      )

• Frances Woods was a very well know dancer of her
  time. Due to a premature birth, she was
  congenitally deaf but always loved music and to
  dance. In the late 1920s, Frances and her husband
  Billy Bray were given the name, "The Wonder
  Dancers," for a most unusual husband-and-wife
  dancing team. They were featured in Ripleys
  Believe It or Not, and life-size wax replicas of
  both were placed in the Ripley Museum. In the
  1950s, Frances and Billy opened a dance studio in
  Youngstown, Ohio. At first, they taught ballet,
  modern jazz, acrobatic dancing, and tap dancing.
  Later they focused on adult ballroom dancing.
  They frequently gave free dance lessons to
  children and entertained disabled and elders
  patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

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• For more information on Frances Woods
• http//www.workersforjesus.com/dfi/964.htm
• http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCen
  turyWoman/deafwomen.htm
• http//www.sddot.com/fpa/Aeronautics/general_histo
  ry.asp
• http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCen
  turyWoman/deafwomen.htm

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Frances "Peggie" Parsons (1923- )

• Frances Parsons was a huge supporter of total
  communication and throughout her entire life has
  advocated for deaf rights. She was born deaf due
  to a premature birth and growing up was extremely
  athletic. Peggy also joined the Peace Corps in
  efforts to help deaf children all around the
  world and has done quite a bit of traveling.

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• Peggie began writing about her experiences and
  deafness. She wrote Sound of the Stars in 1971
  and was a co-author on several other books I
  Didnt Hear the Dragon Roar in 1988, American
  Sign Language Shattering the Myth in 1998. In
  1992 her writing was included as part of a
  collection, No Walls of Stone An Anthology by
  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Writers by Jill Jepson
  (ed.).

For more information on Frances Peggie
Parsons http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/Th
e21stCenturyWoman/deafwomen.htm
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Marcella M. Meyer (1925-       )

• Marcella was the founder and Chief Executive
  Officer of GLAD, a powerful deaf organization.
  She became deaf when she was 6 years old and was
  raised through oral methods. In 1969, Marcella
  founded GLAD, Greater Los Angeles Council on
  Deafness, which became one of the most
  influential deaf organizations in the country.

For more information on Marcella M.
Meyer http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The2
1stCenturyWoman/deafwomen.htm
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Gertrude Scott Galloway (1930-  ) 

• Gertrude S. Galloway was born deaf and grew up in
  a deaf family living in Washington D.C. She
  received her doctorate degree at Gallaudet and
  soon after became the first woman president of
  the National Association of the Deaf. Gertrude
  was also known as the 1st deaf superintendent and
  the first woman superintendent at the state. In
  1996, she became the President for CEASD
  (Conference of Educational Administration serving
  the Deaf) and continued to work as an
  administrator and advocate for deaf women.

For more information Gertrude Scott
Galloway http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/T
he21stCenturyWoman/deafwomen.htm http//www.geocit
ies.com/elfpolitics/gdeafpeople01.html http//wata
.org/forum/1999/99-10-19-01.htm
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Alice L. Hagemeyer (1934 -     )

• Alice was born in Mitchell, Nebraska and became
  deaf when she was 3½ years old. She works as a
  librarian for the deaf community at District of
  Columbia Public Library. Her desire in life was
  to develop public awareness about deafness. Alice
  later founded the Friends of Libraries for Deaf
  Action (FOLDA) which was later named Library
  Friends Section of NAD.

For more information on Alice L. Hagemeyer
http//folda.net/aboutalice.html
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Bonnie Poitras Tucker (1939 -    )

• Bonnie Tucker was born in Springfield,
  Massachusetts and became deaf when she was 2
  years old. Throughout her life, Bonnie faced
  discrimination because of her deafness, but it
  only caused her to become more determined. Her
  hearing husband filed for divorce because he
  could not accept her deafness. She became
  extremely motivated afterwards and has excelled
  in her work ever since. In 1995, Bonnie wrote a
  book titled The Feeling of Silence which
  discusses her life and the difficulties that she
  went through and the success that was
  accomplished.

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For more information on Bonnie Poitras
Tucker http//www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1220_
reg_print.html http//www.law.asu.edu/Apps/Faculty
/Faculty.aspx?individual_id15 http//www.dpa.org.
sg/publication/dpipub/winter96/dpi12.htm
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Judith Viera Tingley (1939 -      )

• Judith Tingley was born in Oakland, California
  and became deaf when she was a senior in high
  school. She received her masters degree in
  Education of Exceptional children in 1966. In
  1988, she became president of Teletec
  International Sales and Marketing of Ultratec
  products. Through her research and publications
  about telecommunication and relay services, the
  lives of many deaf individuals all around the
  world have been greatly impacted.

For more information on Judith Viera
Tingley http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/Th
e21stCenturyWoman/deafwomen.htm http//www.deaflif
epress.com/gda_listing.html http//www.geocities.c
om/elfpolitics/gdeafpeople01.html
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Shirley J. Allen (1941 -       )

• Shirley J. Allen was born in Tyler, Texas and
  became deaf at the age of 20 from typhoid fever.
  After graduating from Gallaudet University in
  1966, Shirley became a professor at National
  Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) . She
  made history in 1992, when Shirley became the
  first African American deaf woman to receive a
  Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in New
  York.

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For more information on Shirley J.
Allen http//depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/exer
cises/exreading/shirleyallen.htm
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Phyllis Frelich (1944 -      )

• Phyllis Frelich was born in Devils Lake, North
  Dakota and grew up in a D/deaf family. She
  graduated from Gallaudet in 1967 and began
  performing as an actress. Phyllis was involved
  with the National Theater of the Deaf and has won
  many awards for drama. The most popular movie in
  which she performed it titled Bridges to
  Silence. Phyllis performed the Broadway
  production of Children of a Lesser God as Sarah
  Norman and won a Tony Award for her performance.

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Phyllis Frelich http//www.governor.state.nd.us/aw
ards/rr-gallery/frelich.html http//www.playbill.c
om/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/13758 http//ww
w.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?CI35502 ht
tp//www.in-forum.com/specials/century/jan3/week21
.html http//deafness.about.com/cs/celebfeatures/
a/frelichbove.htm
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Linda Bove (1945 -      )

• Linda Bove is widely known as one of the main
  characters on the childrens show Sesame
  Street. She grew up in a D/deaf family and
  attended Gallaudet University, receiving a
  bachelors degree in Library Science. Her love
  for drama led her to Sesame Street and eventually
  to participate with the National Theater of the
  Deaf. In addition, Linda has made successful
  videos, such as Sign Me a Story. She has also
  been featured in children's sign language books
  such as Sesame Street Sign Language Fun with
  Linda Bove.

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For more information on Linda Bove http//www.ntcp
.org/compendium/artists/LINDA.html http//www.work
ersforjesus.com/dfi/586.htm http//www.tvtome.com/
tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-48198
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Bove
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Kitty O'Neil (1946 -       )

• Kitty ONeal, the worlds fastest woman, was born
  in Corpus Christi, Texas and became deaf when she
  was 4 years old. At the University of Texas she
  studied methods of teaching deaf children and
  received her degree in Education. Through
  teaching children, she founded School Listening
  Eyes in Witchita Falls. In her free time, Kitty
  loved adventure and participating in dangerous
  activities and sports. She rode in a speed boat
  at the velocity of 285.23 miles per hour and was
  on water skis at 104.85 miles per house. As well
  as performing stunts in movies such as Bionic
  Woman and Wonder Woman, Kitty has participated
  in a number of vehicle races and driving
  competitions. One of her greatest
  accomplishments was being listed in the Guinness
  Book of World Record for traveling at the speed
  of 512.710 miles per hour.

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For more information on Kitty ONeil http//www.th
e-rocketman.com/kitty.html http//digital.library.
upenn.edu/women/holland/spindrift/kitty.html http
//p3.csun.edu/p3access/Calendar2001/0301facts.html
http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCe
nturyWoman/deafwomen.htm http//64.233.167.104/sea
rch?qcache-exeK6BJLD0Jwww.blarneystar.com/Kitty
New2.pdfKittyO27Neilhlenstart11
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Julianna Fjeld (1947 -     )

• Julianna Fjeld was born deaf in Minneapolis,
  Minnesota, and to this day, the cause of her
  condition is still unknown. Julianna attended
  Gallaudet University for four years, graduating
  in 1970 with a bachelors degree in English
  literature. After graduation she worked as a
  performer in the National Theater of the Deaf.
  While on tour, she came across a book In This
  Sign by Joanne Greenberg and decided she wanted
  to turn in into a movie. Julianna became the
  executive producer to this film Love is Never
  Silent and played a small acting role as well.
  It appeared on Hallmark as well as NBC and in
  1986 won the Emmy award for best picture.

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For more information on Julianna
Fjeld http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The2
1stCenturyWoman/deafwomen.htm http//www.workersfo
rjesus.com/dfi/852.htm http//p3.csun.edu/p3access
/Calendar2001/0601facts.html http//archives.galla
udet.edu/ac/smss/mss10a.html http//www.workersfo
rjesus.com/dfi/852.htm
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Kathie Skyer Hering (1950-     )

• Kathie Hering was an advocate for late deafened
  adults, who herself had become deaf at the age of
  28. In 1991, she became president for the Chicago
  chapter of ALDA (Association of Late Deafened
  Adults) which helps adults develop communication
  skills and prevents isolation. Using her masters
  degree in counseling, Kathie works as a social
  service worker for ALDA and helps many adults
  with this life altering change.

For more information on Kathie Skyer Hering
http//www.deaflifepress.com/gda_listing.html htt
p//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCentur
yWoman/deafwomen.htm
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Mary Lou Norutsky (1954-     )

• Mary Lou Norutsky was born in Johnstown,
  Pennsylvania. She was born deaf. After
  graduating from Gallaudet in 1979 with a degree
  in Psychology, she worked for the National
  Captioning Institute for 2 years. Afterwards,
  Mary Lou became the co-producer and co-host for
  the television show Deaf Mosaic, a monthly
  Gallaudet TV show. The show won five Emmy awards
  and reflects televisions highest honor.

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For more information on Mary Lou
Norutsky http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/T
he21stCenturyWoman/deafwomen.htm
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Marlee Matlin (1965 -     )

• Marlee was born in Morton Grove, Illinois and
  became deaf at 18 months old, but it was not
  identified until the age of 2. She participated
  in the National Theater of the Deaf as well as
  many movie and television programs. Her biggest
  role was in the movie Children of a Lesser God
  in which she won an Oscar for her performance.
  Marlee is a famous actress in deaf and hearing
  culture and has continued to appear in different
  television shows such as ER, Desperate
  Housewives, the West Wing, and Law and Order.

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For more information on Marlee Matlin http//www.m
aleematlinsite.com/ http//www.imdb.com/name/nm055
9144/ http//www.joshlyman.com/articles/marlee-owa
dfa.html http//www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnfla
sh/may2001/nf20010523_563.htm
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Evelyn Glennie (1965- )

• Evelyn was the first full time solo percussionist
  in the world. She has recorded 18 albums/cds and
  won two Grammy Awards and received two further
  nominations. In a live performance Evelyn can use
  up to approximately 60 instruments. At the age of
  5, Evelyn won a National Primary School Art
  competition, then at age 19 Evelyn graduated from
  the Royal Academy of Music. In 1991 Evelyn's
  autobiography 'Good Vibrations' was published and
  reprinted in 1995. She has appeared on 'Sesame
  Street' '60 Minutes', 'The Jim Lehrer News Hour'
  and 'The Late Show with David Letterman' among
  many others. Evelyn gives around 110 concerts
  per year.

45
For more information on Evelyn Glennie http//www.
evelyn.co.uk/ http//www.drummerworld.com/drummers
/Evelyn_Glennie.html http//www.sbgmusic.com/html/
teacher/reference/performers/glennie.html http//w
ww.angelfire.com/mac/keepitlive/drummers/Gledie/gl
edie.htm
46
Bridgette Bourne (1967 -     )

• Bridgette was born deaf and was very involved in
  the Deaf community growing up. In 1988, she
  became involved with the Deaf President Now
  movement at Gallaudet University and rose up as
  one of the leaders. In 1992, Bridgette received
  her masters in Public Administration and worked
  as a Conference Coordinator within the College of
  Continued Education.

For more information on Bridgette Bourne
http//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCen
turyWoman/deafwomen.htm
47
Shelley Beattie (1967 -       )

• Shelly Beattie was born in Santa Ana Orange
  County, California and became deaf at the age of
  3. Because of some behavior problems growing up,
  she was placed in a foster home during her
  teenage years. Shelley was a champion
  bodybuilder who is known as one of the American
  Gladiators. She holds the 1988 and 1989
  National and World Record for the fastest time
  with co-e handcar team as well as high school
  track heptathlon records. She holds the world
  bench press record at 315 pounds and has won
  several body building competitions.

48
Shelley Beattie http//www.frsa.com/pixfemuscle/be
attie.html http//www.a3.org/95_Crew_bios/Beattie_
bio.html http//www.workersforjesus.com/dfi/587.ht
m
49
Michelle Banks (1969 )

• Michelle is a famous African American entertainer
  who has performed in countless appearances. She
  acted in the movies Malcolm X and
  Compensation in which she was the main actress.
  Michelle formed her own theater company, Onyx
  Theatre Inc., a theater company for performers
  from all nationalities. She also started her own
  traveling one-woman show, "Reflections of a Black
  Deaf Woman." Finally she appeared on stage in the
  production of Big River and Profile of a Deaf
  Peddler. Michelle grew up in Washington D.C but
  now lives in Los Angeles.

50
For more information on Michelle
Banks http//www.nbda.org/spotlights/spotlight_arc
hive/spotlight_banks.html http//clerccenter.galla
udet.edu/WorldAroundYou/mar-apr98/banks.html http
//clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/Clearinghouse/Happenin
gs/banks.html http//www.workersforjesus.com/dfi/9
67.htm
51
Terrylene (1969 - )

• Terrylene's resume includes television and stage,
  but she has also acted in feature films such as
  Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers." Before her
  starring role in the play "Sweet Nothing in My
  Ear," she was best known for her role on
  television's Beauty and the Beast. She was one of
  the deaf actors on an episode of "Pacific Blue."
  Terrylene also starred in the film "AfterImage
  playing a psychic deaf woman. She has made her
  own appearance on the cover of Deaf Life (July
  1992). Terrylene is perhaps the most famous
  graduate of the Model Secondary School for the
  Deaf, and was invited back in 1998 to be their
  graduation speaker.

52
For more information on Terrylene http//terrylene
.com/ http//www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonD
etail/personid-34996/Terrylene/ http//www.c-s-d.o
rg/Default.aspx?tabid117
53
Amy Ecklund (1970 - )

• Amy plays as an actress in the popular soap opera
  Guiding Light. She was not born deaf, but lost
  her hearing at the age of 6 and was raised in a
  total communication environment. Amys character
  on the show received a cochlear implant, and
  though she has not left the show, Amy is a
  celebrity for younger children with implants to
  look up to. In 1998, she won the Daytime Award
  for outstanding supporting actress in a daytime
  series.

54
For more information on Amy Ecklund http//deafne
ss.about.com/cs/celebfeatures/a/amyecklund.htm www
.angelfire.com/ ar/Rabby/amye.html
55
Emmanuelle Labroit (1971- )

• Emmanuelle was born in France and grew up wanting
  to be a famous actress. She became well known
  for her book titled The Cry of the Gulf and was
  later nominated for an Oscar for the film Beyond
  Silence. Her most recent movie was titled
  9.11.01 and discusses the tragedy that occurred
  on that day.

56
For more information on Emmanuelle
Laborit http//www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/p
bcs.dll/article?AID/20050316/LIVING/503160310 htt
p//edf3.gallaudet.edu/diversity/BGG/The21stCentur
yWoman/deafwomen.htm
57
Deanne Bray (1971 )

• Deanna plays the role of real life Sue Thomas on
  the television show F.B Eye and portrays a deaf
  woman who works for the F.B.I in solving
  mysteries. She was born deaf and was raised using
  sign language and speech. Before the TV show, she
  was involved in the Deaf West Theater as well as
  hosting a deaf program titled Caption This.
  Deanna holds a degree to teach science and math
  to deaf high school children and was pursuing her
  masters, but has put it on hold while she
  performs as Sue Thomas. On the set and in the
  show, Deanna uses lip reading and sign language
  to communicate.

58
For more information on Deanne Bray http//www.dea
nnebray.com/main.php http//deafness.about.com/cs/
celebfeatures/a/deannebray.htm http//www.tvtome.c
om/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-43230 http
//www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k3/actor/
deannebray.htm
59
Heather Whitestone (1973 -       )

• Heather Whitestone was born in Dothan, Alabama
  and became deaf when she was 18 months old. She
  grew up using the oral method at the Central
  Institute for the Deaf in St Louis (CID). In
  1995, she was a contestant and winner of the Miss
  America pageant. Since the age of 5, she loved
  ballet and performed a dance in the pageant to
  help her win. Heathers victory as Miss American
  made the entire world aware of deafness.

60
For more information on Heather
Whitestone http//www.heatherwhitestone.com/site/c
ontent/splash.html http//www.perfectpeople.net/bi
opage.php3/cid772 http//premierespeakers.com/372
/index.cfm http//www.drdonnica.com/celebrities/00
006142.htm
61
Christy Smith (1978 )

• Christy competed on the CBS reality television
  show Survivor in the Amazon. She chose to be
  on survivor to promote deaf awareness. Because of
  a premature birth she was found to be profoundly
  deaf in both ears. Christy is a graduate of
  Gallaudet University (2000) and now works Aspen
  Camp School for the Deaf in Colorado. After she
  finished Survivor, Christy started her own
  television program on PBS titled Christys Kids
  Challenge Yourself in which she aims to bridge
  the gap by teaching sign language and conquering
  communication barriers to children.

62
For more information on Christy
Smith http//www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor6/survi
vors/prof/christy.shtml http//deafness.about.com/
cs/celebfeatures/a/christysmith.htm http//www.rea
litytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s1491 ht
tp//www.christyskids.tv/
63
Shoshannah Stern (1980 - )

• Shoshannah started her acting career in her high
  school plays at California School for the Deaf.
  She attended Gallaudet University, and while
  still attending classes she got the role in
  Warner Brothers Off Centre. Shoshannah has
  appeared on other well known television shows
  such as Threat Matrix, ER, Boston Public and
  Providence. Shoshannah is 4th generation deaf in
  her family.

64
For more information on Shoshannah
Stern http//www.wchstv.com/abc/threatmatrix/shosh
annahstern.shtml http//www.tvtome.com/tvtome/serv
let/PersonDetail/personid-105473 http//deafness.a
bout.com/od/famousdeafpeople/p/shoshannahstern.htm
http//www.alldeaf.com/text/topic/4996-1.html
65
Deaf Women United

• DEAF WOMEN UNITED, an organization that is of,
  for and by Deaf women is at the forefront of
  these changing times.
• It is an organization that focuses on advocacy,
  education and outreach.
• Deaf communities are scattered throughout the
  country, which makes networking critically
  important for exchanging of information,
  empowerment and enhancement in the quality of
  lives for all Deaf people.
• Today, there is not enough equal access. With
  improved telecommunications, computer technology
  advancement and electronic mail,
• DWU will further its goals and offer its members
  access in our desire to fulfill our needs.

For more information on Deaf Women United
http//www.dwu.org/
66
Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services

• ADWAS is committed to providing services to Deaf
  and Deaf-Blind victims of sexual assault and/or
  domestic violence. The mission of ADWAS is a
  belief that violence is a learned behavior and it
  should not be tolerated.
• ADWAS has advocates on staff to assist people who
  are victims of domestic violence and/or sexual
  assault and need help. Services are free of
  charge and available to people who are Deaf,
  Deaf-Blind or Hard of Hearing and residents of
  King, Pierce or Snohomish County.
• Advocates can
• Help you decide your safety plan
• Help you deal with people involved in your
  situation
• Help you learn about victims rights, and the
  rights of Deaf people to have interpreters and
  fair access to all systems.
• We will help victims whether the police are
  involved or not, no matter if you want to leave
  the abuser or not, no matter what. We will work
  with you for as long as you want, until you feel
  100 safe.

For more information on the ADWAS
http//adwas.org