Popular new pilot My Deaf Family, produced by Marlee Matlin, is bringing a great deal of excitement to the deaf community. There are great shows on TV that are about disabilities (Little People), people who lead different lives,  multiple children (the old Kate and Jon plus Eight), etc. but none that are specifically about deaf people. It looks like that may be about to change.

What is My Deaf Family?
My Deaf Family is a reality documentary pilot produced by Marlee Matlin about a hearing boy and his largely deaf family. Jared, who is 15 years old, is one of two hearing people in a family of six, the Firls. Matlin has placed the pilot on YouTube so everybody can see what it’s all about. 
 
“Matlin isn’t looking to create a web series and is instead seeking out broadcast distribution for the idea — the pilot was put up simply to prove the idea could work and get it some attention,“ writes Liz Shannon Miller, review editor for NewTeeVee.

Deaf Signing Voice-Overs
The first thing you’ll notice about the My Deaf Family video is that everybody is signing and the segment on YouTube is subtitled (or captioned if you prefer to call it that).  There have been several networks that have passed over the series because of the challenge of pulling it off.

Deafness: Is It a Gift?
Jared talks about some of the difficulties of having deaf parents, such as their being able to read lyrics, but “you can’t tell them how music feels”. He also remembers that when he was younger, he could laugh off an adult’s threat to call his parents!

In My Deaf Family, Jared’s mother expresses how important being deaf is in her life, and why she wouldn’t want to change that.

“I believe it’s a gift,” she says of her deafness.

Her signing is voiced over (without the usual lag time) for hearing viewers, making her disability practically unnoticeable. (editor’s note: The clip showing her driving and signing at the same time was a little unnerving, however!).

In fact, voiceovers for each deaf member of the family are age-appropriate and right on time, making the show flow seamlessly for hearing viewers.

In one segment, Matlin signs with family dad Leslie Firl, who reveals that he didn't learn sign language until middle school. And with four out of six family members deaf, he says it's hard to interact with his side of the family, none of whom apparently have bothered to learn American Sign Language (ASL).

Reaction to My Deaf Family
Some people are hoping that TLC will pick up the show and many are anxious for a show about a deaf family and the stereotypes that they face to succeed. This is a great way for the community at large to be exposed to the struggles of a deaf family, which reflects a lot of the struggles the deaf community deals with as a whole.

Go check it out on YouTube! We as a deaf community definitely need some exposure and what better way to do it than having a Deaf family on television showing all the ups and downs of being deaf.