I'm Different, And My Manner Invites Questions.

I've Been Around Since I Was 19, I Won The Oscar When I Was 21, I've Had A Couple Of Tv Series. I've Continued To Work Despite The Predictions Of Some Naysayers.

I've Always Wanted To Write A Book Relating My Experiences Growing Up As A Deaf Child In Chicago. Contrary To What People Might Think, It Wasn't All About Hearing Aids And Speech Classes Or Frustrations.

The Only Thing I Can't Do Is Hear. I Can Drive, I Have A Life With Four Kids, I Work On Tv, I Do Movies, So The Deafness Question, Is It That They Want To Know Because, What? Not Sure.

I'm The Only One In My Family Who Is Deaf, And There Are Still Conversations That Go Around Me That I Miss Out On. And I Ask What's Going On, And I Have To Ask To Be Included. But I'm Not Going To Be Sad About It. I Don't Live In Sad Isolation. It's Just A Situation I'm Used To.

I'm A Proud Person Who Happens To Be Deaf. I Don't Want To Change It. I Don't Want To Wake Up And Suddenly Say, 'oh My God, I Can Hear.' That's Not My Dream. It's Not My Dream. I've Been Raised Deaf. I'm Used To The Way I Am. I Don't Want To Change It. Why Would I Ever Want To Change? Because I'm Used To This, I'm Happy.