By Ashley Dowling, Director, Nonprofit Operations 

As a Deaf person working within MCI USA Association Solutions for the last eight years, I’ve been in multiple roles such as event planning and onsite support for non-profits clients. Growing up, I attended many Deaf events as an attendee and presenter, so I’m aware of best industry practices and have an eye for details for event accommodations.  

Recently, for NYWICI’s Matrix Awards in October 2022 in New York City, I was delighted to be asked to be a handler for honoree Marlee Matlin for the duration of the event. If you recognized that name, she was a Best Actress Academy Awards winner for her work in Children of a Lesser God in 1986 and starred in CODA, the Best Picture winner in 2022 from the Academy Awards. Marlee is also Deaf and uses American Sign Language to communicate.  

Within this event, amazing MCI talents, honorees, presenters, vendors, interpreters, and I all came together to execute the following:  

  • Providing the interpreters with dedicated off-stage room to rotate for breaks during performance with run of show and all known scripts provided beforehand. 
  • Interpreter positioning stage marked and spotlighted with clear line of sight for all Deaf/Hard of Hearing people in audience.  
  • Positioning the floor/personal interpreters with reserved seats for all for easily seeing and voicing for the ASL signers on stage and table.  
  • Doing pre-show tech check and empowering the interpreters to choose their preferred microphones & walkthrough onstage.  
  • Working with the florist for a custom floral centerpiece to not block line of sight and signing space for all seated at the table. 
  • Have all spoken presenters to be aware of the interpreters that would be standing next to them and keep everything as normal before they walked on stage. Nobody wants to make things awkward!  
  • Getting and reviewing pre-recorded videos with open captions.  
  • My own shadow interpreters separate from the stage and Marlee’s interpreters for my pre-show work. 

At the end of the evening, Marlee and her personal interpreter, Deaf/ASL audience members, ASL Stage interpreters, and other people were all saying, “It couldn’t have gone more perfectly!”  

Those who work in non-profit events know the work behind the scenes can be chaotic. I am enterally grateful for having an employer and colleagues who recognize and provide opportunities for equality and representation by having someone who ‘gets it’ to make it work. At the end, as I look back with exhaustion and a smile on my face, I’ll tell you “It’s all worth it!”

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