Marlee Matlin to speak at diversity summit in Portland

Marlee Matlin is coming to Portland, Oregon "to speak at Maximizing the Power of a Changing Workforce: Diversity Summit 2011 presented by Portland General Electric. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Oregon Convention Center. Tickets are sold at the PGE’s website.

Although tickets won't be cheap if you want to attend. It'll set you back at $249.00.

Portland General Electric describes Marlee Matlin:

Academy Award®-winning actress, activist and ambassador for the deaf community, shares her personal life story, emphasizing achieving inclusion, diversity and access for all.

Speaking of diversity, Marlee Matlin made absolutely clear on diversity and choices in her recent tweet.

@Starkeyhearing does not deny ASL or deaf culture; they provide hearing aids. BTW, lots of ASL users wear hearing aids.
And just as an FYI @starkeyhearing tests hearing when parents can’t afford tests for kids and gives out FREE hearing aids.
I sign, I support deaf culture. And I support ALL CHOICES of communication, all kinds of people. If you don’t like my choices, well….

One smart cookie. That's diversity for ya! Did you read that? All choices of communication. Sounds familiar?

Yet some culturally deaf people get all snippy about her support of Starkey's philanthropic mission on giving out free hearing aids. They simply do not see the bigger picture here. Amy makes an obvious point about Marlee Matlin:

If you have a twitter account, go and check @MarleeMatlin, and she has 91,772 followers. She has a clout. People started taking ASL classes, parents decided to sign to their young Deaf children, and celebrities complimenting her.

You see. When people see Marlee sign on a tv show or in a movie that get them interested on wanting to know more about sign language. But that's not enough for some die hard nuts on trying to mold her into their own "deaf image." There is no need for them to get all upset because she supports all choices of communication. Those people need to grow up and get with the program.

Good point, Amy.

Go Starkey!