Deaf moms may not have their ears tuned to their kids, but they most certainly have radar! Our tools include great peripheral vision, gut-checks, and wooden floors. A long span of stillness is enough to have us go checking. ;)
And schmoo — mean what? I learned ASL later in life, so English is my first language. Often there’s a running translation in my head when people sign, so sometimes invented words pop up for pure ASL signs. Schmoo fills in for the kiss-fist gesture. That’s just me — but hopefully one day I’ll have a running ASL translation in my head when I read English…
Dear Sorenson:
I was recently approached by your PR department asking me to contribute my artwork to your promotions during Deaf Awareness Week. New work was especially desired, the email said, and my work would reach thousands of visitors on Sorenson’s Web site and Facebook page. It would bring “exposure,” they said.
I wrote back stating that in order to feed my family and be able to continue working in my craft, I would need to be paid for this work.
Your response stated that there was no budget for compensation. None of the Deaf artists featured would be paid.
I am upset that your idea of promoting yourself through Deaf artists during Deaf Awareness Week includes short-changing them. We are professionals. If a multi-million-dollar company can afford a PR department, let alone the salary of the employee who sent me the original email, they can most certainly afford to compensate Deaf artists for their work.
I have helped you by having your VP in my home, and by using your services. I’m disappointed that you seem to think you are doing me a favor, when I and other Deaf artists helped you earn millions of dollars. This is wrong.
Please reconsider, Sorenson. The Deaf community is your business partner. You do not cheat your business partners. Deaf artists have a special skill that none of your staff have; otherwise, you would not be approaching them. Value it.
Even if you never work with me again, I hope this letter will at least prompt you and other companies to recognize my colleagues as professionals.
Adrean Clark
Illustrator
Adreanaline.com
TerpToons.com
