When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don't let anyone stand in your way. His validation just made it all the more true. I haven't stopped thanking him since.

The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do movies, so the deafness question, is it that they want to know because, what? Not sure.

I guess not being able to hear just made me adventurous and daring. And in most cases, that didn't make my parents very happy with me.

Living modestly in a suburban neighborhood while trying to support four children through private school is not extravagant or living large.

Everybody's got a job to do, and I do mine as best I can.

I learned to speak first, and then to sign. I have never really known what it was like to hear, so I cant compare hearing aids to normal hearing.

I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.