I'm hard of hearing. I miss a lot. It's really tough.
Inequality within the deaf and hard of hearing community is something I feel really passionate about and always will do.
I did my first series lead back in 1991 on a show called 'Reasonable Doubts' and have done many shows with other actors who are deaf. But 'Switched at Birth' is the first TV show where there is more than one actor who is deaf or hard of hearing and who are series regulars.
I was always a shy child and slightly hard of hearing, so music was my outlet.
You must speak loud to those who are hard of hearing.
Written communication is a tremendous help for me, and so when electronic mail was invented in '71, I got very excited about it, thinking well, gee, the deaf community could really use this, or the hard-of-hearing community as well.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing need all the support we can give them.
Am I complaining about my deafness? No, I am not.
