Deaf Oscar winning actress states " Be What You Want"

Oscar-winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin told a Tilson Auditorium audience on Monday there is only one thing a deaf person is unable to do.
"The only thing deaf people can't do is hear," she said. "Deafness only cuts you off from people if you let it."

Nearly 900 people filled the auditorium to see Matlin, who was the final speaker in the University Speaker Series for this year.
Matlin, who has been deaf since she was 18 months old, signed her entire speech, and her interpreter Jack Jason translated verbally for the audience.
Matlin has received many honors, including an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Children of a Lesser God" in 1986. She has had recurring roles on "The West Wing" and "My Name is Earl," and she plays opposite Jennifer Beals in the Shotime series "The L Word."

Matlin first spoke of the many misconceptions people have about deaf people. Using her sense of humor, she compared her life from the 1970s to her life now.

"I used to see myself as Marcia Brady who just happened to be deaf," she said. Then referring to her current state of motherhood, she said. "Now I'm Alice the maid."

Matlin said she had two main goals in life: to write a book saying it's okay to be deaf and to make it in Hollywood. She has achieved both of those goals.

As a deaf person, Matlin had a difficult time making it in Hollywood. She spoke of how brutal directors in Hollywood were to her.

"To them, I was handicapped, and I was beginning to believe it myself," she said. "Hollywood is just like high school-but with more money."

Matlin spoke of her biggest inspiration and mentor, Henry Winkler, known for his role as Fonzie on "Happy Days." He did not excel in school, but he was successful at acting. He gave her words of inspiration when she was just a girl.

"He said to me, in the most Fonzie-like way, 'You can be whatever you want to be. Just believe it in your heart, and all your dreams will come true,'" Matlin said.

Although she has had to overcome many obstacles in her lifetime, Matlin has a positive viewpoint of life now.

"We can achieve much more in life if we focus on our abilities rather than our perceived disabilities," she said.

Since Matlin was often discouraged when she was younger, she wants deaf people to be encouraged at a young age.

"Courage plus dreams equals success-that equation should be taught in every institution of learning," Matlin said.

After Matlin gave her speech, members of the audience were encouraged to come forward to the stage and ask her questions. When asked about what kind of legacy she wants to leave, Matlin was confident in her response.

"I want to be remembered as one of the craziest people they've ever met," she said.

One audience member asked what Matlin thought about making sign language an available foreign language at ISU.

"I'll talk to the provost," she said, only halfway joking. Although Matlin is deaf, that does not prevent her from speaking her mind, especially when it comes to deaf rights.

"Silence is the last thing you will ever hear from me," she said.

Mark Edwards, director of communication and marketing at ISU, was delighted to have Matlin speak at ISU.

"ISU and Terre Haute are most fortunate that she has agreed to share her life and dedication to community service firsthand," he said. "It's not every day that one has the opportunity to meet someone of her stature in person. That's part of the ISU experience."

Linda Crossett, director of community and professional programs at ISU, was pleased with how the audience responded to the program.

"We hope that the audience saw how Marlee was able to fulfill her dream without letting her disability get in the way," Crossett said.

Matlin will appear on the ABC dance competition "Dancing with the Stars" beginning March 17. She said she is very excited about her appearance, and she even struck a few poses as a preview for the audience. She said that no special adjustments will be made for her in the competition, in terms of the volume of the music. Edwards said Matlin was chosen to be in the speaker series because she appeals to people of all ages. He was also pleased with the program.

"If everyone leaves at the end of the evening with a better appreciation and understanding for the experience, we've accomplished something special as an institution, haven't we?" he said.

(as seen on Indiana Statesman)