Academy Award-winning Deaf actor Troy Kotsur recently appeared in one episode of the classic PBS children’s show ‘Sesame Street” teaching American Sign Language. He was the 2nd Deaf person in history to actually win an Oscar, the 1st being his co-star in CODA, Marlee Matlin. He was on the program to teach 2 of the Muppets as well as the show’s global audience the regularly featured “Word of the Day” in American Sign Language (ASL). He revealed to Sesame Street characters Rosita and the Count that he is Deaf and utilizes ASL to communicate with others. What is American Sign Language (ASL)? This well-known form of sign language is used by Deaf individuals all over North America and in other parts of the world too, including in Canada. The use of sign language to interact is called signing. ASL uses both manual or hand-based gestures along with movements with other parts of the body to communicate messages. The Word of the Day is Diversity The actor explained that it signifies understanding and appreciating the differences in how people look, where they're from, and how they communicate with other people. The Significance of Troy Kotsur’s Appearance on the Show and Teaching ASL for the Deaf Community One thing that is significant about Troy Kotsur’s guest role on Sesame Street is that it merges 3 different languages - American Sign Language, English, and Spanish - and repeats a number of words. This feature of the signing segment betters viewers’ capability to sign these terms and also demonstrates the diverse nature of sign language use. Watching a Deaf actor do American Sign Language on Sesame Street, which has a worldwide audience, can help to fill the void in Deaf media representation. Little Strides toward Improved Awareness and Inclusivity These tiny changes in the global media are powerful because they get people talking. Hearing people become more aware of the Deaf, are more exposed to Deaf communities, and also start to recognize some of the accessibility issues that Deaf people experience every single day.
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May 2023
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