Yes She Can: Marlee Matlin Tells Her Story

She was diagnosed as deaf at 18 months old, became the youngest woman, at age 21, to win an Oscar[R] for her role in Children of a Lesser God, is a published author, the proud mother of four children, and recently spent time dancing competitively on the hit show Dancing with the Stars. For decades, Marlee Matlin has been one of the most well known individuals with a disability in the world, and she has continually inspired audiences with her quality work and massive talent. She is also a national celebrity spokesperson for The American Red Cross, was instrumental in getting Congress to pass federal legislation for closed captioning technology, and serves on the boards of a number of charitable organizations, including Easter Seals and The Children Affected By Aids Foundation. With so many extraordinary accomplishments to her credit, it can be easy to assume that Marlee Matlin's successes have come easy. However, throughout her career--from her first role at age seven to her recent work in television and film--the actress has had to face harsh judgments and skeptical questioning. Now, after years of proving herself and her abilities and showing people everywhere that, as she has stated, "the only thing a deaf person can't do, is hear," Marlee has decided to share her story and explain how she became the brave, determined, and impressive woman that she is today. This month, Marlee will release her autobiography, I'll Scream Later, and here she talks to Exceptional Parent about why she chose to write the book, what her thoughts are on Hollywood and people with special needs, and why unconditional support is the best thing a parent can give a child.

Exceptional Parent (EP): Why did you decide that now was the time to write your autobiography and put your