Not the hearing or Deaf world | Heather Artinian | TEDxGeorgetown

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Published 2013-12-11

Heather Artinian is a student at Georgetown majoring in Government and minoring in Justice & Peace studies. Heather was the subject of an academy-award nominated documentary titled 'Sound and Fury'. The documentary focuses on her family and their struggle to make a decision whether to give her, 5 years old at the time, a cochlear implant that would enable her to hear. Heather will share her journey through life; learning how to speak and hear, attending hearing schools, and being part of the deaf culture and the hearing world.

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All Comments (21)

@CassieJazz96 8 years ago

Just watched "Sound and Fury" and it was a brilliant documentary. Heather struck me as a very bright child and I'm so proud of what she has accomplished today. This is an excellent talk!
@MJ-gj6mj 2 years ago

"Heather Artinian is an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Latham & Watkins, where she was a summer associate prior to joining Latham full-time." You go Heather! Inspiring so many :)
@SuperKeirsten123 9 years ago

We watched Sound and Fury in my ASL class
@Calphool222 6 years ago

When my wife and I watched Sound and Fury years ago, we were inspired to raise money to install Mopix systems in our local theaters (closed captioning devices for deaf patrons). It's so amazing to see Heather all grown up and DOING AT TED TALK!! Heather, you are an inspiration!! It was so heart wrenching to see all the turmoil in your family two decades ago, when everybody just wanted what they thought was best. It was an excellent documentary (and the follow up documentary was amazing as well). So great to stumble upon this TED talk!
@monahabibi6478 9 years ago

i watched sound and fury in my child development class and i realized that people should be in both worlds
@MissMittens219 9 years ago

Heather, I am very impressed!! I was in my ASL interpreter training program when I watched Sound and Fury, and I have wondered for a long time how you've been and how everything turned out for you. I'm so thrilled to see the very successful young woman you've become! You will continue to accomplish great things! Way to go, girlie! :)
@verseapocalyptica668 9 years ago

Fantastic video! My husband is Deaf and I am Hearing, and the bridging of worlds is one of the best parts of our relationship. His family is a mix of Hearing and Deaf, and when we have kids, we'll raise them in both worlds. We wish you the best in pursuing your dreams. :)
@mikaelablatus6293 1 year ago

we watched sound and fury in my class this week, and im so glad a classmate mentioned that heather also had a ted talk. even from the documentary she seemed like such a bright little kid and i’m so happy she was able to get more amazing opportunities!!
@ginamayfield1595 10 years ago

I would like to say I'm very happy that Heather's parents eecided to get her the cochlear implant. Heather has came along way and proud of her. She's the best role model for both the deaf and hearing.
@carlyt.7376 9 years ago

Spent the night following Heather's story through the documentaries and this TedX. Determination and passion - you go girl! We will be lucky to have you in the legal field!
@sammyingram2596 9 years ago

I've been showing Sound and Fury in my social justice classes ever since my wife and I taught several courses on disability theory and disability rights back in 2001. It's wonderful to see this marvelous young women telling her story, a story from which we can all learn a lesson. David Ingram
@ryublueblanka 2 years ago

Sound and Fury was on my list of dream documentaries to see for literally 20 years and I just saw it finally on YouTube of all places. I have a ton to say and unpack about the film but a YouTube comment section probably isn't the best place. There needs to be a legit follow up documentary. It would be absolutely fascinating and important on so many levels. This is the next best thing though and it only took me a second to realize who this is! Heather! 💜 I thinking about learning sign language...
@danielles3841 4 months ago

My ASL professor showed us "Sound and Fury" recently and then directed us to Heather's Tedx Talk! I'm so glad to see she's doing well
@shobanar2782 7 years ago

Hello, I am thinking of doing a TEDx talk sometime later in my life since I was born profoundly deaf with type one diabetes. I consider myself as a totally normal person who loves to dance, took part in a drama school, making new friends, etc. I am also enrolled in a major in child studies in Carleton University. This is a good opportunity for me to talk about my life and this video really helps me to gain confidence and to open up to the world. Thank you Heather and I totally support the Heather World!! :)
@JessicaNiles 1 year ago

I fell in love with Heather decades ago when Sound & Fury came out and can't believe I never knew about this Ted Talk! I am so thrilled to see what she has done with her life. Her speech is amazing!! I want more!
@cnewsom0721 10 years ago

What a wonderful role model you are for my bilateral daughter! Thank you for this speech!
@millionaire365 5 years ago

Graduated from HLS as a deaf person. You definitely showed those who doubted you Heather. I cannot say in words how much of my admiration you have. Thank you for such a great talk and setting an example for others.
@alisonsattler6396 7 years ago

Thank you SO much for this super-important and valuable message! I watched "Sound and Fury" years ago, and can still vividly recall scenes from the film that especially disturbed me due to your (Heather's) parents, grandparents' and aunt's and uncle's inability to how that each understood WHY the other felt as they did and, more importantly, respected their right to believe and feel as they did. As so often happens, people in priviledged positions of society assume that they are there for good reason...that they are somehow "enlightened" and that marginalized persons (those that have historically been held in less esteem/had less powerful roles in society) are simply uninformed or unable to make the "right choice". This is how I saw your uncle, aunt and grandparents treating your parents in the film. It bothered me then, and that attitude still bothers me. I'm glad you've taken away the message I hoped would be learned from your family's dilemma: that ONE way, ONE idea, ONE community, ONE belief, ONE people, ONE culture is not a healthy nor sustainable way to live in this world...nor has it ever been. I hope you follow your dream to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court one day (seriously!). Our country needs someone like you leading our country-- now more than ever!
@brynnaandersen7739 3 years ago

Whatever your beliefs about cochlear implants, I would not be here in college getting my degree in speech pathology without the friends I've made who were deaf, who grew up with aids and implants. They were my initial reasons to wanting to become a speech therapist and to learn ASL, and they had become some of my best friends - I would not have known them without their being able to use speech, and I'm incredibly grateful that they were able to. I 100% support Heather's talk about building bridges and getting to know your own world, and the bridges between others.
@camcam1849 3 years ago

omg.. I just finished watching Sound & Fury today and it was a really really great documentary... I'm so proud of Heather that really brought me tears watching her speak in front of many hearing people