Academy Award-winning Deaf actor Troy Kotsur recently made an appearance in an episode of the classic PBS children’s show ‘Sesame Street" teaching American Sign Language. He's the 2nd Deaf actor in history to actually win an Oscar, the first being his co-star in CODA, Marlee Matlin. He was on the program to teach two of the Muppets and also the show’s global audience the regularly featured "Word of the Day" in American Sign Language (ASL). He explained to Sesame Street characters Rosita and the Count that he’s Deaf and uses ASL to connect with other people.

American Sign Language (ASL) is a well-known form of sign language is utilized by Deaf individuals across North America and in other parts of the world as well, including in Canada. The usage of sign language to communicate is called signing. ASL uses both manual or hand-based gestures and also movements with other body parts to communicate messages.

One thing that is significant about Troy Kotsur’s guest role on Sesame Street is that it merges three different languages - American Sign Language, English, and Spanish - and also repeats a number of words. This feature of the signing segment enhances viewers’ capability to sign these terms and also shows the diverse nature of sign language use.

Watching a Deaf actor perform American Sign Language on Sesame Street, which has a worldwide audience, can help to fill the void in Deaf media representation.

Such little changes in the global media are powerful because they get individuals talking. Hearing people become more aware of the Deaf, are more exposed to Deaf communities, and also start to comprehend some of the accessibility issues that Deaf people encounter every day.