Karen Dyer ALS
Donation protected
Karen Dyer's Story
ASL Teacher Battles ALS
The Loss of Two Voices
We all experience loss to some degree in our lives. Yet, some losses can prove to be more far-reaching than others; ALS is one of them.
Karen Dyer has lived her adult life with two voices—her speaking voice and the “voice” of her hands. As an ASL teacher, mentor, consultant, interpreter and actress, she has awakened a new level of awareness within our theatre community of what it means to communicate with your hands.
Karen has always been a dedicated advocate for making ART accessible to members of the Deaf Community. Trained in theatre and deaf education, she initiated Shadow Interpreting at our theatre and guided all thirteen productions presented with American Sign Language.
She introduced the character of Chester the Jester into the Children's Programming. Chester never spoke, only signed. As a result, countless children left our theatre smiling and talking to each other with their hands.
So, it is sadly ironic that ALS first attacked Karen's right hand. It began with the sudden inability to use a nail clipper and led her, months later, to the devastating diagnosis of ALS.
Since her diagnosis, this disease has stolen much from Karen—both her voices and so much more. She communicates through the use of a machine, she eats through a feeding tube, and daily home health care is now a necessity for her needs and her safety.
Recently, an interpreter friend of Karen's was able to take her to see the Broadway production of Spring Awakening, with a cast of both hearing and deaf actors, featuring the Oscar-winning Marlee Matlin. One of the highlights of the day for Karen was having her photo taken with Ms. Matlin, whose stage and film work has been a constant source of inspiration for Karen.
So, as friends of Karen and her husband Bruce, it is our hope to offset further “loss” in their lives by reaching out to all of you. The expenses and needs that accompany this disease, over and above health care coverage, can be emotionally, psychologically and financially debilitating. Our goal is to ease the financial burden of home modifications, transportation needs and in-home care.
We hope you will please use your “voice” in the form of a donation.
Thank you.
ASL Teacher Battles ALS
The Loss of Two Voices
We all experience loss to some degree in our lives. Yet, some losses can prove to be more far-reaching than others; ALS is one of them.
Karen Dyer has lived her adult life with two voices—her speaking voice and the “voice” of her hands. As an ASL teacher, mentor, consultant, interpreter and actress, she has awakened a new level of awareness within our theatre community of what it means to communicate with your hands.
Karen has always been a dedicated advocate for making ART accessible to members of the Deaf Community. Trained in theatre and deaf education, she initiated Shadow Interpreting at our theatre and guided all thirteen productions presented with American Sign Language.
She introduced the character of Chester the Jester into the Children's Programming. Chester never spoke, only signed. As a result, countless children left our theatre smiling and talking to each other with their hands.
So, it is sadly ironic that ALS first attacked Karen's right hand. It began with the sudden inability to use a nail clipper and led her, months later, to the devastating diagnosis of ALS.
Since her diagnosis, this disease has stolen much from Karen—both her voices and so much more. She communicates through the use of a machine, she eats through a feeding tube, and daily home health care is now a necessity for her needs and her safety.
Recently, an interpreter friend of Karen's was able to take her to see the Broadway production of Spring Awakening, with a cast of both hearing and deaf actors, featuring the Oscar-winning Marlee Matlin. One of the highlights of the day for Karen was having her photo taken with Ms. Matlin, whose stage and film work has been a constant source of inspiration for Karen.
So, as friends of Karen and her husband Bruce, it is our hope to offset further “loss” in their lives by reaching out to all of you. The expenses and needs that accompany this disease, over and above health care coverage, can be emotionally, psychologically and financially debilitating. Our goal is to ease the financial burden of home modifications, transportation needs and in-home care.
We hope you will please use your “voice” in the form of a donation.
Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Trish Reichfeld
Organizer
Haddonfield, NJ
Karl Dyer
Beneficiary