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Deaf U
Deaf U follows the lives of seven Gallaudet students as they navigate the ups and downs of relationships, college, and life in general–did we mention it all takes place at Gallaudet University?
By showing us their experience, these students have shown the world our culture, diversity, and ASL vibrancy. While there’s plenty of popcorn-worthy drama, we hope Deaf U sparks conversation and opens doors to help redefine society’s perception and understanding of deaf people.
[Start Video Transcript]
Deaf U is a coming-of-age reality series following a tight-knit group of Deaf students at Gallaudet University, a renowned private college for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, in Washington, D.C.
As the group of friends navigate the high, lows, and hookups of college life together, their stories offer an unprecedented, unfiltered, and often unexpected look inside Deaf community. From executive producer Nyle DiMarco.
Watch Deaf U, only on Netflix:
https://www.netflix.com/deafu
SUBSCRIBE:
http://bit.ly/29qBUt7
About Netflix:
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with 193 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Deaf U | Official Trailer | Netflix
https://youtube.com/Netflix
In this reality series, a tight-knit group of Deaf and hard of hearing students share their stories and explore life at Gallaudet University.
[End Video Transcript]
The show promises to offer “an unprecedented, unfiltered, and often unexpected look inside the deaf community.
Get ready for a college experience like you’ve never seen before.
In the fall of 2019, Gallaudet University welcomed New York-based Hot Snakes Media to our campus. Gallaudet alumnus Nyle DiMarco, ’13, served as executive producer along with several other deaf individuals and Gallaudet alumni to make this project a reality.
Our role was small–other than allowing filming on campus–Gallaudet had no official position with the creation, casting, or approval of Deaf U. Nevertheless, we appreciate both Hot Snakes Media and Netflix seeing the importance of involving deaf people both in front and behind the camera.
Gallaudet is a diverse campus where our students hail from different parts of the world and come from a variety of backgrounds. Did you know that about one-third of our student population are new signers? One-third of the student body also comes from mainstream schools. Gallaudet is a place where you find your future!
Find your place here and discover what drives you at Gallaudet University. Apply today at
https://gu.live/apply.
Our students do not come here because being Deaf needs to be “overcome.”Rather, they come because Gallaudet is a place that strives to provide a welcoming home where students can validate their worth, live their own truths and discover their best selves.
Contact an admissions counselor to get started on college planning.
A common thread was the desire to showcase their experience, their journey at Gallaudet, the only school in the world to provide a visually accessible bilingual education in American Sign Language and English.
This was a diverse group of students, with differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, education, language and upbringing. One student was a new signer; some came from hearing families and others from deaf families.
Recurring roles: Zane Pedersen and Cameron Symansky
Cheyenna Clearbrook; Daequan Taylor, ’19; Tessa Lewis, ’20; Alexa Paulay-Simmons, ’20; Renate Rose, ’20; Rodney Burford; and Dalton Taylor; Raelyn Ruechtmann.
ASL Connect offers two distinct pathways for learning American Sign Language (ASL):
Professional Studies Training (Professional Studies Credit):
Purpose: This option is designed for personal enrichment, professional development, or as supplemental training. It’s ideal for individuals who want to improve their ASL skills without the need for formal academic credit.
Flexibility: Typically, these courses are more flexible and can accommodate learners looking for continuing education or professional development without the pressure of graded assignments.
Outcome: No academic credit is awarded, and the completion of the course does not result in a transcript or transferable credits to other institutions.
Undergraduate (Official University Credit):
Purpose: This option is part of an accredited academic program and is suited for students pursuing an undergraduate degree or those who wish to earn transferable academic credit for their ASL learning.
Transferable Credits: The credits earned through this course can be transferred to other colleges and universities, making it a valuable choice for students looking to meet language requirements or build towards a degree.
Outcome: Upon completion, students will receive a grade, and their achievements will be recorded on a transcript, contributing to their academic record.
Professional Studies Credit vs. University Credit: Undergraduate courses offer academic credit that can be transferred, while Professional Studies Training does not.
Purpose: Professional Studies Training focuses on skill-building for personal or professional use, while Undergraduate courses contribute to a degree and are transferable to other institutions.
These two pathways allow you to choose the option that best fits your goals—whether for academic credit or personal/professional development.
We are excited to bring a new direction to our program! While SRP was valuable, we wanted to offer a more dynamic, immersive experience by expanding beyond Gallaudet University. We’ve chosen to host ASL DIVE in both Boston and Washington, D.C., with plans to add more regional locations in the future. These cities provide a rich academic and cultural environment that enhances the program.
Additionally, we’ve rebranded as ASL DIVE to better reflect the program’s focus on a transformative ASL experience—one that goes beyond the classroom and immerses participants in Deaf culture and language.
DIVE courses offer Professional Studies and Training (PST) credits, not university credits. This means the credits focus on professional development and skill-building rather than traditional academic credit. DIVE does not offer university credit.
The cost varies depending on the package you choose:
Includes:
✔️ One ASL course tailored to your level
✔️ A choice of Fingerspelling or Classifier courses
✔️ Access to cultural events and activities
✔️ All digital textbooks and resources
✔️ Two ASL courses tailored to your level
✔️ Two additional courses (Fingerspelling or Classifier)
✔️ Cultural events and activities in both cities
While the cost may seem higher, the immersive experience and social engagement opportunities provided by ASL DIVE are unique and designed to help you gain real-world fluency in ASL.
ASL DIVE does not provide lodging, meals, or transportation. You will need to arrange your own accommodations, food, and travel.
For lodging, we recommend checking options like Airbnb or nearby hotels. In Boston, MA, you can reserve a room at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. In Washington, D.C., you can stay at the Kellogg Conference Hotel located on the Gallaudet campus. However, you are free to choose accommodations that best suit your needs.
For transportation, we recommend public transit or rideshare services (like Uber or Lyft).
ASL DIVE is designed for students who are 18 years old or older by the first day of class. We encourage high school students to explore other programs like Gallaudet’s Youth Program: Immerse Into ASL. You can find more information about that program at this link.
The Math Center is located in Jordan Student Academic Center #2210.
Click the Link to see what your state protections are.
Financial aid is not available for post-bac students, but payment plans are an option.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Deaf elitism is one of several recurring themes throughout Deaf U. There is no one definition of what “Deaf elite” means, but more often than not, it refers to privileges that certain deaf people have by being born to deaf parents who are known in the community, having language access from birth with native ASL skills or fluency in English, being able to go to a deaf school before going to college, and seeming to enjoy “favored status” within their communities.
The term “Deaf elite” has been used in our community conversations for some time now. When Deaf U was in production, various cast members confronted this term and presented multiple perspectives and definitions of what the term meant to them. While there is no real consensus on the meaning of this term, “Deaf elite” generally implies a group of Deaf individuals with higher privileges within the Deaf community.
At Gallaudet and elsewhere in the deaf community, there are many different ways to be deaf, and there is no one right way to be deaf. Gallaudet University encourages more healthy conversations and critical examination of Deaf U’s presentation of the “Deaf elite.” Understanding power, privilege, and oppression are essential in these conversations. Different Deaf community members are already sharing their perspectives online via social media and blogs, and we expect that the discussions around this term will evolve
Here’s what Deaf U’s producers have to say about the show’s origins:
ERIC EVANGELISTA: I first came up with the idea for this show about three years ago. I’m a big fan of the Freeform show Switched at Birth. I love coming-of-age stories, and I also loved that the show featured Deaf actors who were blended in with the rest of the teenage characters. I found the sign language included in the show so interesting — it introduced me to a world I knew very little about, and I began thinking about a reality show centered on the Deaf community. I’ve developed shows with Naimah [Holmes] before, so I called her and was like, “What do you think of this?” And she thought it was great. Then the stars just aligned, and we got Nyle on board as well.
NAIMAH HOLMES: We worked closely with a woman we met through Eric’s production lawyer named Peggy Ann St. John Wenger, an Associate Producer on the series. Peggy, who is deaf, is a Gallaudet graduate, and she helped me dive into the project and immerse myself in the Deaf community. I got to explore the community before we began casting and filming, and I met all our cast members’ families. We went on a scouting trip, and I saw all the dorms, got to go to some parties — it was a real cultural deep dive. It was really about them pulling me in and accepting me for me to say then, “Okay, let’s make a show together.” Peggy helped round up and galvanize the students and the parents.
NYLE DiMARCO: I’m a Gallaudet alum, and back in my college days, my friends and I always used to say that we needed a reality TV show about Gallaudet because we knew it would just kill. Every time we would go on spring break, hearing people were so fascinated with us. They would always want to party with us, and they were obsessed with our language and how we communicated. So it was clear that there was genuine interest in our culture. People outside our community don’t understand the Deaf world and don’t recognize that Deaf students possess complicated layers. We have so much diversity and so much beauty within our community. We’re not a monolith. Gallaudet is the perfect entry point for people to see the variety and depth, and breadth of who we are.
The students in the cast are (listed alphabetically):