Hand-Waves for Matlin In Celebrity Apprentice Finale

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) commends the extraordinary accomplishments of Academy-Award winning actress Marlee Matlin during her recent remarkable feats on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice". In every challenge of her life, she has shown the world that a deaf person can be successful in any environment when full access to communication is provided. As Marlee explained during the final episode that aired on May 22, 2011, "When I was a little girl, people said to me that I could not be an actress. When I won my Academy Award for best actress at 21 years old, the next day someone said that she won out of pity and she will never, ever work again... ‘Dead On Arrival.’ Those barriers have come in my life and I’ve beaten them down."

Ms. Matlin has proven that being deaf that is not a barrier, but rather, barriers are unnecessarily imposed on deaf and hard of hearing people. During a "Celebrity Apprentice" episode that aired on April 3, 2011, she took on the Project Manager task and raised one million dollars which is more money than has ever been raised for charity in a single event on any television show. She has singlehandedly demonstrated that deaf people can be successful actors, presenters, dancers, authors, and leaders. The NAD encourages everyone who was following the show to take note of the skills that deaf and hard of hearing individuals can offer, and ensure that these skills are fully utilized. Many deaf and hard of hearing individuals continue to be under-employed. The NAD urges employers to hire them for management positions as well as promote them when they have proven themselves.

"The NAD thanks Marlee Matlin for breaking many barriers so that other people who are deaf and hard of hearing can avail themselves of more opportunities, and looks forward to many more barriers being broken," said NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins.