Actor Alaqua Cox speaks on deaf representation at Columbia’s Deaf Awareness Day

Marvel actor Alaqua Cox spoke about the importance of deaf representation and seeing underrepresented communities on screen during Columbia’s Deaf Awareness Day event, hosted by the American Sign Language program, on Friday, Sept. 18. Cox, known for her role as Maya Lopez in Marvel’s “Hawkeye” and “Echo,” spoke to an audience made up largely of hard of hearing high school students on the fifth floor of the Student Center.  “I’m so happy that I’m able to show other deaf people in the audience that they have these abilities to become an actor. That’s their dream,” Cox said, speaking through an interpreter in American Sign Language. About 15 Columbia students came to the event, along with 120 high school students from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School, Hinsdale South High School, the La Grange Area Department of Special Education and the Ray Graham Training Center, according to Meghan Vozzolo. Vozzolo, Columbia’s ASL interpreter coordinator, said the college has hosted Deaf Awareness Day for several years, inviting local Deaf and hard of hearing high school students and members of the Deaf community to campus. “We want to host the high school students on campus to show them what a college campus and event can look and feel like,” Vozzolo said. “We also want to share our value of the Deaf community with them and for them to know they are in a safe space where they are supported and valued.” Columbia’s ASL community has stayed active through workshops and events despite the removal of its ASL-English interpretation major in 2024, which the Chronicle previously reported. Students can still receive a minor in ASL.  During a keynote speech about her life and career, Cox discussed her identity as a Deaf Indigenous woman and amputee, along with barriers she has faced as a Deaf actor and accommodations she has received while working in film and television.  Throughout the event, ASL interpreters were present and live text-to-speech transcription was displayed on the screen. Students sat at circular tables, allowing them to see one another while communicating in ASL. Cox encouraged Deaf and hard of hearing students interested in creative careers to pursue opportunities, even when they doubt themselves. “Hollywood is not that inclusive, not that accessible, so it’s hard to get your quote-on-quote foot in the door,” Cox said. “But if you see a casting call, don’t doubt yourself. Just say, ‘you know what? Try. Always try.’ You’ll never know.” Vozzolo said organizers considered different ways Deaf and hard of hearing attendees receive information when planning the event. “There is not ‘one way’ that Deaf [and hard of hearing] students and adults use and receive language,” Vozzolo said. Accessibility measures included a Deaf host, ASL interpretation, open-captioned video clips, live captioning during Cox’s keynote and paper and pens available at each table.  SnapCap donated an hour of remote live-captioning service for Cox’s keynote, Vozzolo said. Junior acting major Khalyah Adams-Thompson attended the event after it was recommended through their ASL class. Adams-Thompson said they wanted to better understand the Deaf community while practicing what they have learned in class. Cox’s discussion about accommodations on film sets particularly stood out to Adams-Thompson as an actor.  “It gave me a better understanding about how that works and how I, as a hearing actress, can help with those things,” Adams-Thompson said. They said seeing the different ways people communicated in ASL reinforced some of what they already understood about Deaf culture. “I loved to see the amount of personality and style in everyone’s signing,” Adams-Thompson said. They said the experience encouraged them to attend more events within the Deaf community and continue practicing ASL. “Hands-on experience is truly the best teacher.” Adams-Thompson said. Vozzolo said events like Deaf Awareness Day can also encourage students to think more broadly about accessibility in their everyday lives. “It helps us to see things with a new lens,” Vozzolo said. “For Deaf and hard of hearing folks who joined us, it provides a culture of care, representation and support.” Copy edited by Katie Peters