For weeks leading up to the National Football League's Super Bowl LVI which took place on Sunday, February 13, 2022, the Deaf community, their allies, friends and families had high hopes for what would be the first time in NFL history, a showing of the National Anthem, America the Beautiful signed by a Deaf artist, Sandra Mae Frank and the half-time show with our Deaf artists, Sean Forbes and Wawa in its entirety on the actual television.  The thought of being able to watch it with everyone else, just like everyone else, was thrilling! Many of us thought we would sit on our sofas and turn on the television and see the whole show for a change.

This isn’t what happened.  Sandra Mae was partially blocked by a man who was pacing in front of her. For the half-time show, we were told (a few days before) to download the NBC Sports app or go to NBCSports.com to see the songs being signed. Some of us missed the memo and did not do this in time.  Some of us had issues with downloading it, some of us did not understand how to use it, others did not have access to Wi-Fi to be able to use the app or the internet.  Not since Marlee Matlin signed standing next to Garth Brooks (Super Bowl XXVII, 1993 - almost 30 years ago!) has this happened. We never knew what to expect. Every year. Some years our Deaf artists are not shown in its entirety, other years use of picture in picture (PIP) on the screen- which is very small and hard to see, other years we got only a few clips of the performance. It’s unfair because it is not equitable to full access and inclusivity. The Deaf community deserves better and it’s time this is addressed. 

Our solution is simple.  Please put the signer in a box in a corner of the screen. Our artists were shown on the jumbotron in the Sofi stadium. It needs to be in our homes as well.  Side by side on the TV, or a larger picture in picture, for example. This way, our community will not need to take the extra steps of downloading an app or going online through a website.

Sean Forbes,  Warren “Wawa” Snipe, and Sandra Mae Frank should have been given the same treatment as the other performers.  Deaf people gave you a tremendous amount of press and attention on a variety of social media outlets. We should be returned with equal access - to say the least.  Please listen to and include our Deaf consultants, artists, and our community on what  equitable access looks like and make it happen.  A copy of this letter is being sent to the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and Fox Sports Corporation as well.  We hope that collaboration will happen again next year and that it will be more accessible and equitable. 

Thank you for your consideration,

Concerned Deaf Community members