Then check this out:
I'd guess that this is something you haven't seen, or probably thought of, before: A music video for deaf people. (UPDATED to add: My apologies for not summarizing this for those who can't view it - this is a music video for deaf/hard of hearing people using American Sign Language in place of a singing performer, done to John Mayer's "Waiting On The World To Change." And, it should be said, big thanks to John Mayer for giving permission for us to use his song, as well as to Christina Aguilera and Sponge who have allowed us to use their performances in other videos.)
Given your willingness, I'd like to tell you a little bit about the hows and whys of this video. And if you think this is worthy of your interest, I'd appreciate comments; if it's worthy of others' attention, then I'd certainly appreciate some recs so that it might reach as broad an audience as possible.
Recently I started working with a nonprofit organization called the Deaf Performing Artists Network, otherwise known as D-PAN - a two-year-old group based in southeast Michigan. D-PAN was established to make music and music culture accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people, to create outlets for creative works by deaf performers and artists, and to create job and educational opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing performers, directors, writers, artists, and technicians.
As a hearing person, I had never considered the range of issues and questions that D-PAN's existence raises - but since becoming acquainted with the group, my awareness has expanded exponentially. Most of us have probably considered some deaf issues in the abstract: What would life be like if we lost our hearing, or what is life like for deaf or hard of hearing people that we know? But if you're at all like me, you never thought about some of the real-world, day-to-day details involved. Like, what would it be like as a teenager or young adult to watch MTV or YouTube, seeing the same content that fascinated millions of your contemporaries - the content that not only informed their tastes and conversations, but which influenced their decisions as to what clothes to wear, what places to go, what things to do for fun - and have the essence of that content be completely inaccessible to you? For that matter, what would it be like to have the inspiration for a video or a lyric, but by virtue of physical difference, have no means of creating it or communicating it to a broader audience? Speaking for myself, as the product of a music and MTV-dominated '80s upbringing, I can say that the difference it would have made in my own life would have been profound: Apart from being the rabid consumer of thousands of CDs and videos, I have been a guitarist and bandmember; these things have been a core element of my identity, and they have been wholly predicated upon my ability to hear. I had never begun to consider the real importance of that.
The people at D-PAN have considered it - they have lived with it. The deaf and hard of hearing individuals who are involved with this group have spent their lives effectively excluded from media and popular culture universes that the rest of us take for granted; apart from music and videos, things like stand-up comedy, live drama, movies, and so many other staples of our cultural diet are largely inaccessible to the MILLIONS of Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is a fundamentally inequitable situation, but thanks to advances in both technology and in our collective thinking regarding people of differing physical capabilities, there is now the possibility for this to be at least partially rectified, and the people who founded D-PAN are doing their best to make this happen.
Beginning with short-form music videos, D-PAN is beginning to rethink the way media is created, presented, and distributed in order to increase its accessibility; it is also calling upon a previously-untapped pool of creativity among the deaf population to generate new art forms and media products suited to nonhearing audiences. In so doing, it is (in my opinion) addressing a vast, unmet need as well as issues of fundamental fairness. This is the early going right now - D-PAN is only a couple of years old - but plans are afoot to not only create more videos, but to a) develop new technologies to enable deaf/hard of hearing people to fully enjoy live concerts, stage performances, and films; b) develop educational outreach initiatives for deaf/hard of hearing youth interested in media and the performing arts; c) develop school programs which foster communication and collaboration between hearing and nonhearing students and artists; d) create training and job programs for nonhearing individuals within the media and entertainment industries. I think it's pretty impressive myself.
So, why am I posting this here? Well, this is my own awkward way of generating broader awareness for what I feel to be a very worthy organization with a very worthy set of objectives. For those here who are deaf themselves, have deaf family members or friends, who are interested in deaf/disability issues, or otherwise are intrigued by the possibilities of an organization such as this, I urge you to visit the D-PAN website, check out what we're up to, and communicate with us if you feel so inclined - and certainly to spread the word to anyone else you feel may be interested.
Lastly, a word about my own involvement: As I said at the outset, I am a hearing person; upon losing my job recently, I became employed by one of D-PAN's founders, a longtime friend, to help the organization out with grantwriting and governmental relations matters. So, I am hardly impartial in all of this for the obvious reasons. This notwithstanding, I am posting here because I personally believe strongly in D-PAN's vision, and because I believe that the vibrant and diverse Kos community surely must contain a few individuals who would be interested, and who may be able to lend their suggestions or ideas. So, I'll close with a few questions...please feel free to respond in the comments, or by email to me at dlivingstone (at) d-pan dot com. I'll be anxious to hear what all of you think.
If you are a deaf or hard of hearing person...
...What would you like to see an organization like D-PAN do to make media more accessible?
...What forms of media, news, or entertainment are least accessible to you at present?
...Are there current or proposed technologies that would enhance your ability to enjoy or more fully participate in mass media or live entertainment events that are currently inaccessible to you?
If you are a deaf or hard of hearing artist/performer/other creative...
...What could be done to make your work (or the work you would like to create) accessible to a broader audience?
...If technological limitations were removed, what audience would you like your work to reach?
...What principal barriers have you encountered in having your work presented and appreciated?
Lastly, if any of you want to help me do my job a little better (it would be appreciated): What organizations or governmental entities should I approach in order to increase awareness of D-PAN, the issues it addresses, and the community it serves? Who can we connect with who can help us fulfill our mission of creating truly accessible media?
Alright. I've gone on long enough. Thanks for watching, reading, and most of all, for any ideas or comments you may have.
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UPDATE: Thank you EVERYBODY for reading, for responding, and for the recs, and double thanks for checking out D-PAN and what they do. It is so very much appreciated. I'm sorry I had to cut out abruptly earlier - childcare details beckoned unavoidably, but I'm now back and reading everything you wrote.
UPDATE II: OK, a couple more questions, in case anyone here has thoughts on the matter: There are two particular initiatives we are undertaking which I think you guys might have some good suggestions for. The first is, we want to create an outreach program into the public schools, designed to foster understanding, cooperation, and collaboration between hearing and nonhearing students - particularly those interested in the arts. We're not entirely sure how to structure such an initiative, nor how to approach school districts to secure their cooperation, so any suggestions there would be appreciated. Secondly, we are working with the University of Michigan School of Engineering's Center for Entrepreneurship on a "Technology Challenge" - basically a $10,000 prize for U-M engineering students to develop workable concepts for devices or systems which can better enable the deaf to enjoy or participate in live performances. We really want to expand the technological scope of our efforts to include things like web-based applications designed to facilitate increased access, or PC apps to translate text-to-sign or speech-to-sign. Any thoughts on how to advance those ideas along would be greatly appreciated as well.
Again, my many, many thanks to all who have read and commented. You guys totally rock.
UPDATE III: Whoa...looks like "a few people" went to the site and checked out the other videos - and crashed the server. So, it appears the site's down. And since I'm not the site admin, I have no way to get it going again at 1:00 a.m. EST! But if you've tried to get in tonight and can't, or if you've tried to email me and it's bounced, please try again tomorrow...we'll be up and running again I'm sure.