Television and streaming services are populated with a variety of teen shows. There are a number of mythical creature series, post-apocalyptic shows, and teen murder dramas. With a myriad of coming-of-age storylines targeting teens and young adults, writers have to get creative if they want their series to last beyond a single season. When considering their target audience, creators have to find a certain niche or a different element to play on within their storylines. Upon creating Switched at Birth, Lizzy Weiss knew she needed something beyond the broken families trying to make up for lost time with their daughters. She had already planned on a diverse cast, and relationships and scandals were a given due to the genre, but that unique hook was just on the tip of her fingers.

Once Weiss pitched that Daphne, the daughter of the struggling single mother, should be deaf, ABC Family was sold. This element easily created tension within the plot that was interesting and fresh for audiences. By adding several Deaf and Hard of Hearing actors, the show elevated itself to something more than another teen series with a twist. Switched at Birth not only highlighted the Deaf community, but it also created a stepping stone for hearing people to find interest in the culture. Since the success of the five-season program, many Deaf actors have found a better footing in mainstream film and television.

Why the Deaf Dynamic?

Disney – ABC Domestic Television

When it comes to creating likable as well as relatable characters, Weiss clearly had the idea that cultures as well as boundaries needed to be crossed. From the use of Latinx culture, single motherhood, the power play from the difference in financial standings among the two families, there were few stones left to turn. Adding in the deaf element, and making sure it was the child who missed out on living the wealthy and more privileged lifestyle, was a great move.

This created the natural conflict between the adults, but it also wedged a barrier between the two girls, Daphne and Bay, by them not being able to immediately bond over their shared situation. This dynamic also opened up the perspective to put the show’s “hearing audience” in the shoes of a deaf person for certain scenes and episodes. Because Switched at Birth is not necessarily a “Deaf only” or “hearing only” show, it is able to blend the communities and portray the different values, lifestyles, and struggles of both worlds.

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Casting Deaf Actors

Disney – ABC Domestic Television

It is noteworthy to address how tight-knit the Deaf community is with one another. Think about a small town where everyone knows the business of one another. That is very similar to well known Deaf actors, comedians, and professionals. When it came time for Weiss to cast her Deaf characters, she knew the Deaf community would be judging her choices. Daphne’s character needed to have a certain “deaf accent,” already be fluent in ASL, and have impeccable acting skills. Katie Leclerc fit these criteria, and the rest of the selections came easier. Marlee Matlin (Melody Bledsoe) and Sean Berdy (Emmett Bledsoe) were already established in the film industry, with Matlin being a renowned award winner and Berdy acting in The Sandlot 2.

Weiss admitted in an interview that Matlin was not originally cast in the series, but she reached out and asked if she could be a part of this unique show. Because a large majority of the cast is still hearing, there were ASL coaches behind the scenes making sure the actors’ signing was on par with that of their character. Some characters like Regina were made to be fluent, Bay and Kathryn were expected to pick up on the language rather quickly, and Toby and John were on the slower and sloppier side of signing.

Related: The Best Performances of People with Disabilities, Ranked

Response to the Show

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With any show that takes a risk of doing something different, mixed reactions are expected. However, the feedback and reviews that poured in after the show aired was more on the positive side. The show built a fanbase fairly quickly with the Deaf community due to the nature of the show and certain actors appearing regularly. In a CBC Radio interview, Matlin spoke about how the show really helped bridge an unknown and unseen concept of individuals with different degrees of hearing loss living normal and fulfilling lives. The characters have jobs, make and break relationships, and are simply regular people.

She goes on to say that the show opened doors for many deaf actors. Berdy went on to star in Netflix’s The Society. Leclerc has been in nearly a dozen different television roles. Stephanie Nogueras, who played a deaf student, Natalie Pierce, got the chance to reconnect with Matlin during an episode of Accused, where Matlin is behind the camera directing. Opportunities for actors with disabilities are popping up more as the entertainment industry grasps at unique concepts and new perspectives. Weiss’ family drama, Switched at Birth, definitely helped bring this realization to light.