Howard Knight: Mock sign language interpreter in your film

RE: Mock sign language interpreter in your film

Chelsea Handler
2118 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1053
Santa Monica, CA 90403

November 4, 2012

RE: Mock sign language interpreter in your film

Dear Ms. Handler,

In regards to your film clip “Bloomberg’s Sign Language Sidekick” about Lydia Callis on October 30, 2012, I am expressing deep dissatisfaction in the way you have made fun of the Deaf community. I understand that you may be in the business to make money mocking other people outside of your circle of family and friends. But this goes too far in belittling a very challenging and frustrating Deaf community that tries hard to rise above the stereotype similar to Ann Coulter’s classification of “retards”.

It’s very hard for a Deaf person to receive a decent education in a hearing world where you take verbal communication for granted. For decades, we’ve been oppressed to hide our hands and walk in shame for being Deaf but not anymore. We are trying hard to be out in the open to show the world that we can overcome these communication barriers and find opportunities in breaking away from the status quo of joblessness. And we need your help in doing this the right way.

Instead of mocking our primary link into your hearing world, how about using Deaf actors with real American Sign Language interpreters and expose the audience how cool Deaf people really are? From there, you can express your fascination with our dramatic facial expressions and laugh together in a positive way. We even have our own Deaf jokes.

But more importantly, have you ever hired a Deaf person? It’s a discriminating workforce with 13.3% of people with disabilities who are unemployed in June 2012 compared to 8.2% of the general population. But this does not count for disabilities who had no choice after fruitlessly looking for work to give up and go on welfare in order to survive. I’ve taken a cue from a senior vocational counselor that Deaf people are the hardest group for job placements.

We respectfully request that you remove the video clip from your website and YouTube and become an active role in supporting the Deaf community.

Kind Regards,

Howard Knight, CPA
Principal

12 Greenway Plaza
Suite 1100-105
Houston, TX 77046
713.568.3380 v/vp
713.583.0280 fax
713.387.9908 text message
http://www.howardknight.com
Email: [email protected]
2012 Howard Knight. All rights reserved.

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