1. M ARLEE M ATLIN B3 April 15

2. E ARLY L IFE She was born in Illinois on August 24, 1965. When she was 18 months she came down with German measles. It caused her to lose 100% hearing in her right ear and 80% in her left ear, making her legally deaf. Her parents did not want to send her to a special school, so they taught her themselves.

3. C AREER Her career started when she got a role in the play Children of a Lesser God. For the play she received a best actress award in 1986. she has played in many shows and movies. Some of her latest shows is Switched at Birth. She has also competed on Dancing with the Stars.

4. I NFLUENCE She has influenced deaf culture by showing people that deafness does not matter in what you want to do. She has raised a lot of money for charities all over the world.

5. N OW She live in Los Angeles with her husband Kevin and their 4 children, who are all hearing. She still continues to act today.

6. Q UOTES Every one of us is different in some way, but for those of us who are more, different, we have to put more effort into convincing the less different that we can do the same thing they can, just differently. The handicap of deafness is not in the ears; it is in the mind.