The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is excited to share the remarkable news of an all American Sign Language episode to happen on Monday, March 4th on mainstream television! On a fictional TV series, ABC Family’s Switched At Birth, deaf students fear their deaf school will be shut down. Students, inspired by the real-life “Deaf President Now” protest held 25 years ago at Gallaudet University, decide to lead their own protest. Will Daphne and other deaf students succeed to save the Carlton School for the Deaf? We’ll find out on Monday, 8/7c!
“This is a phenomenal and groundbreaking first in television history,” praises Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the NAD. “The NAD expresses its gratitude and appreciation to ABC Family for being the first to showcase an all ASL scripted episode on mainstream television.”
Chris Wagner, Board President of the NAD, is also thrilled, “I know many deaf and hard of hearing people watch the show, but I am even more excited that this TV series increases awareness about American Sign Language with the whole world. This is just the beginning. This historic show is truly a positive move forward for deaf and hard of hearing people.”
This groundbreaking episode will tell a story from the perspective of several different deaf characters in ASL, with open captions for those who do not know ASL.
“I think everyone is really excited and curious to see how we do this. It definitely presented its challenges but I hope we show people on other networks that it can be done,” said series creator and Executive Producer Lizzy Weiss during an interview with the NAD. “I learned about the Deaf President Now uprising when I was researching the pilot and became completely fascinated and inspired by it. What a triumph, not just for the students, but for deaf people everywhere, educating the world about who they are. I’ve always wanted to do something that was a homage to that event and the all-ASL episode seemed like the perfect time to do that.”
The NAD is also thrilled! We encourage you to watch the episode and show your support via Twitter (@NADTweets), Facebook (www.facebook.com/NAD1880), and Instagram (@NAD1880). Get friends together and have a viewing party of this historic Switched at Birth episode! Tweet your praises, post on Facebook where you are watching the show, upload your viewing photos onto Instagram, and share with everyone how you are celebrating this first all ASL episode on television! Give a #NADhandwave to #SwitchedatBirth with its #AllASLEpisode! Let’s also thank the #SwitchedatBirth cast/crew and make this a day to remember.
Hashtags for Twitter/Instagram:
#SwitchedatBirth
#AllASLEpisode
#TakeBackCarlton
Also give a #NADhandwave on Twitter to:
@ABCFsab
@abcfamily
@LizzyWeissSAB
@MarleeMatlin
@katieleclerc
@SeanBerdy
@RyanLane1123
@DWMoffett
@LeaKThompson
@goconstance
@MrGrabeel
@GillesMarini