Read: The story of Deaf TV journalist, Karen Meyer

In a great feature called ‘Accidental’ Deaf TV Reporter: A Profession with a Purpose, by Mike Ervin, the career of deaf television journalist Karen Meyer is explained. She may be the only television journalist in the world who regularly reports for a mainstream news programme in sign language (if there’s another, let us know!).

Read on…

Karen Meyer has had a long and fruitful career as a television journalist. But it’s all a crazy, happy accident.

Twice a week, Meyer, who was born deaf, contributes a story about the disability community to the local news broadcasts of WLS, the ABC affiliate in her hometown of Chicago. She is the producer, interviewer and writer for all her stories. She communicates on camera with her voice and through American Sign Language. Her segments are open captioned, with the words printed on the screen along with descriptions of other associated sounds.

But Meyer never aspired to nor prepared for a career in journalism. She has a B.S. degree in family services from Eastern Illinois University and an M.A. degree in urban studies from Loyola University Chicago. “So I was either going to be a social worker or an urban planner,” she said. “I did a little of both, then one career led to another.”

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.itodaynews.com/2012-issues/february2012/meyer.htm

The Limping Chicken is supported by Deaf media company Remark!, provider of sign language services Deaf Umbrella, and the RAD Deaf Law Centre.