Hit TV show “The Simpsons” featured a deaf actor on the show for the first time in its 33-year run. John Autry II, a deaf actor, plays a character named Monk Murphy in the episode. Monk is the son of a famous musician who is in need of a cochlear implant. Characters use American sign language throughout the episode, another first for the show. Since Simpsons characters only have four fingers, the show brought on a specialist to ensure the ASL was understandable. The episode comes fresh off the heels of “CODA”’s best picture win at the Academy Awards, a film about a family with deaf parents. Hopefully these two major media entities shining a light on the deaf community will inspire others to do the same.
Image via "The Simpsons"
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