For the deaf and hard of hearing, faces are critical to communication. In American Sign Language, the same hand shape and movement can completely change meaning with facial expressions.
When photographer Brian Tietz suggested his annual philanthropy portrait photography project to Alicia Miller, executive director of the Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center, she didn’t hesitate to accept.
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Southwest Florida photographer Brian Tietz photographed 15 staff members and beneficiaries of the Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center as a project to raise awareness and funding for the center. From left, Harper Miller, Ava Toncray, Emma Toncray and Amelia Deese (two are deaf, two are hearing). Can you tell which girls are deaf? “They had so much fun,” says Alicia Miller, executive director of the Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center. “In the image, you can’t tell which ones are deaf. It shows that deaf doesn’t have a ‘look.’” The photographs will be exhibited at the center's January 11 fundraiser and then at the center's offices. The center also offers a free sign language class on Tuesdays.
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Alberto Maldonado signs "fluent/skilled" and explains that deaf people can have just as skilled and fluent communication as hearing people can.
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Rick McClain is signing that he is "stubborn." His wife Deb is saying "That you are."
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Lisa Myhand signs the word "appreciate" because, as her role as a deaf mentor, she is always appreciative when the "hearing world" attempts to learn sign language and communicate with her.
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Brenda Lander embraces Amelia Deese during the photo shoot.
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John Gouger is signing the word "deaf" and wants everyone to know that deaf people have no limits. They can do anything hearing people can do (except hear!).
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Rick McClain signs the word for “help.” As a deaf minister, Rick considers himself to be a helper in the community.
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Brock Drimones signs "strong" because he wants the community to know that despite being deaf, he feels strong and independent.
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Betty Rodriguez, a child of a deaf adult, also called a CODA, has known American Sign Language since she was was a baby. She is signing “Mom,” because she uses sign language to communicate with her mother, who is deaf.
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Brenda Lander signs the word “identity.” As a woman who was born deaf, who also has a daughter who was born deaf, deaf culture is a huge part of her identity.
“It’s an opportunity to increase deaf awareness,” Miller says. “This project shows that the deaf look like everyone else.”
It’s been a big couple of years of gaining visibility for the former Deaf Service Center, which since 1983 has been working to improve the quality of life for the deaf and hard of hearing citizens and their families through education, advocacy and community involvement.
A wide range of services are offered to deaf and hard of hearing children and adults of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Glades and DeSoto counties, including interpreting services, free telephone equipment loans, a deaf mentor program, American Sign Language classes, information and referral services, employment assistance, family education, community outreach and education, and adaptive equipment sales.
In January 2018, the center received a new name, the Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center after Albert Pimentel made a $50,000 donation in honor of his wife. Al Pimentel, who is deaf, wanted to increase viability and visibility of the center in honor of his hard-of-hearing wife, a lifelong educator of the deaf, who passed away in June 2019.
Now, Fort Myers photographer Brian Tietz has put some faces to the center’s name and mission with a photography project designed to bring to life area service organizations and those they serve.
For two days in October, Brian set up his lights and camera at the small office and classrooms of the center. The results are portraits of 15 staff members and beneficiaries of the center’s services.
Each photography subject, which included the deaf, hard of hearing, children of deaf adults and sign language interpreters, was asked to make a sign for a word that represents deaf life to them.
“I’m really trying to capture an unguarded moment,” Brian says. That’s really the element that makes an impact in an image when you see it. I try to keep the lighting simple and let the faces and people really capture the attention of the viewer.”
Alicia Miller explains the images will be on display at the center’s fundraising event January 11 at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers, where Deafies in Drag, a deaf comedy duo, will shed more light on deaf culture. After the event, the portraits will hang in the center’s offices.
It’s the fifth philanthropy project for Brian.
“A few years ago, when I was turning 40, I had a moment where I realized I hadn’t really done much to help my community,” he says. “I don’t necessarily have the financial means to give to local charities and thought I could offer my time and skills to help instead, and in turn keep being creative and produce some great images that help local organizations. I wanted to be a better person and role model for my children.”
His daughter, Ava, 14, has been helping when she can with behind-the-scenes videos of the photo shoots.
With a goal to do at least one philanthropic photography project a year, so far Brian has photographed children of the Heights Foundation, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Bonita Springs Historic Preservation Board and Grace Place in Naples. He donates his time and the images to the charities.
“When I started doing these projects, the biggest surprise was how great I felt after the shoots,” Brian says. “Doing good things genuinely makes you feel great inside and out.”
Alicia says one photo included four girls, two of them deaf and two of them hearing. “They had so much fun,” she says. “In the image, you can’t tell which ones are deaf. It shows that deaf doesn’t have a ‘look.’”
Sign language classes
The Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center offers free weekly American Sign Language, or ASL, and Deaf Culture instruction for families with deaf or hard of hearing children. The sessions are free every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. during the school year at the center, 1860 Boy Scout Drive in Fort Myers.The sessions are led by a parent of a deaf child and are designed to help parents and siblings learn basic ASL to understand the needs of their deaf or hard of hearing family member.
For information on the January fundraising event and services of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center, call 239-461-0334 voice phone, 239-247-5821 video phone, or visit dhhc.life.