College play tells story of Deaf community

From in Medicine Hat News in Canada:

The Deaf Blind Support Services (DBSS) program students have collaborated with the drama department at the Medicine Hat College to produce The Big D – a theatrical portrayal of life experiences in the Deaf community.

The play is based on the comical and negative real-life events of Patti Spicer has endured as a a member of the Deaf community. The show will include skits about Spicer's shopping endeavours as well as adventures she experienced while getting lost travelling abroad.

Clare Lapinskie, a senior drama student who is overseeing the theatrical production, said the show is about breaking down barriers and eradicating labels society has placed on people within the deaf community.

"Our main goal is to be able to tell Patti's story as truthful and realistically as possible," Lapinskie said. "Her stories need to be told because there's many misperceptions out there in the hearing world."

Through an interpreter, Spicer said there were several reasons why she wanted to participate in The Big D; she wanted to support the fundraising efforts of the program and she wanted to inform people how to communicate with Deaf people.

Spicer, who is a DBSS program instructor at the College said, "It wasn't that hard to decide (to perform in the play) because I feel I have a very important message to give – to talk to people about what I have gone through . . . I want people to look at me as a person first and then Deaf second."

Coordinator of the DBSS program, Leslie Baldwin, said "I hope this will be a real inspiration and affirmation for everyone, that it's possible to succeed and have a full life, as much as it is for anyone else."

The Big D production is a fundraiser for the DBSS program, with proceeds going towards covering transportation costs for students who travel for their practicum experience and for class field trips. DBSS students will be providing hand-over-hand signing as well as sighted guide assistance for audience members who require it.

The performance is open to everyone, including individuals who are Deaf, blind or hard of hearing. Certified interpreters will not be present, but volunteers will be interpreting for anyone who requires it.