When I was young I knew I was deaf. I couldn't accept it. Marlee Matlin More Quotes by Marlee Matlin More Quotes From Marlee Matlin 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. Marlee Matlin individual-differences effort people The handicap of deafness is not in the ear; it is in the mind. Marlee Matlin deafness ears mind It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using. Marlee Matlin autism madness crazy I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and in spite of what most people might have expected from a young girl growing up deaf, life for me was like one long episode of The Brady Bunch. Despite whatever barriers were in my way, I imagined myself as Marcia Brady skating down the street saying “hi” to everyone, whether they knew me or not. Marlee Matlin growing-up girl long 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. Marlee Matlin proud-person dream want You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Look out for kids, help them dream and be inspired. We teach calculus in schools, but I believe the most important formula is courage plus dreams equals success. Marlee Matlin dream believe school Deaf people can do anything, except hear. Marlee Matlin gallaudet deaf people I have made the choices that work best for me. I know I cannot please everyone, and that's fine. Marlee Matlin fine choices made When I learned to sign and speak at the same time, the whole world opened up to me. That's the beauty of encouraging kids who are deaf to use whatever it takes to communicate. Marlee Matlin use kids world Silence is the last thing the world will ever hear from me. Marlee Matlin lasts silence world I live my life like everyone else; everyone has their own obstacles. Mine is deafness. Marlee Matlin deafness obstacles living-my-life At some point we have to stop and say, There's Marlee, not, There's the deaf actress. Marlee Matlin deaf actresses I have always resisted putting limitations on myself, both professionally and personally. Marlee Matlin limitation There are so many people, deaf or otherwise abled, who are so talented but overlooked or not given a chance to even get their foot in the door. Marlee Matlin feet doors people 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. Marlee Matlin deaf isolation missing All I can say is I've been reading the lips of bleeped-out words, angry baseball players, and stoned-out rock stars on awards shows for years and it's been hilarious. Everyone is always asking me what the bleeped-out parts are saying. Marlee Matlin stars reading baseball I'm not really deaf; I just faked it to win the Oscar KIDDING. Marlee Matlin deaf oscars winning Im in my mid-30s, Ive won an Oscar, I have four children. You figure out if my deafness has adversely affected my life. Marlee Matlin oscars four children I find the mantle of, she works hard for the money, or, she's overcome so many obstacles a bit overused. Marlee Matlin obstacles hard-work overcoming Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called Denzel Washington the wrong name. Marlee Matlin stupid names people
