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

When you're up for an award at the Oscars, try as you might, it's hard to concentrate on the show.

I was 21 years and 218 days old when I received the Academy Award for Best Actress. I had just stepped into an imaginary world that I'd seen at a distance for years.

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

What parent has it easy? I just never make the difficulty of it an obstacle. I just do it.

I'm a proud person who happens to be deaf. I don't want to change it. I don't want to wake up and suddenly say, 'Oh my God, I can hear.' That's not my dream. It's not my dream. I've been raised deaf. I'm used to the way I am. I don't want to change it. Why would I ever want to change? Because I'm used to this, I'm happy.

At the end of the day, it's about the best interests of the children.