Model, actor, and deaf activist Nyle DiMarco asked his Twitter followers on Saturday to create a video of themselves signing the lyrics to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The pop legend loves it.
DiMarco said the Twitter challenge is intended to spread awareness for deaf children who are not taught sign language.
https://twitter.com/NyleDiMarco/status/1208430075688837120
“Unfortunately more than 75% of hearing parents do not sign to communicate with their deaf child,” DiMarco wrote, commenting on the video challenge he’d created. “One of the reasons why I’m doing this challenge is to normalize sign language.”
https://twitter.com/NyleDiMarco/status/1208847541929775104
DiMarco’s original tweet has racked up thousands of replies, some of which are DiMarco reposting submitted videos. The challenge has even caught the attention of Carey, who tweeted her approval of the challenge–complete with heart emojis.
This is amazing!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/9JCQsv5fhM
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) December 23, 2019
Challenge participants from all over the world are using their localized sign language–such as American Sign Language for the U.S.–to share in the spirit of awareness. Among those posting are deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals as well as interpreters.
https://twitter.com/JohnnySibilly/status/1208490187463901185
https://twitter.com/askonstig/status/1208443799493627909
Brazilian sign language I sign it! pic.twitter.com/GSrqCrI2ok
— andre 🇧🇷🏳️🌈🎗️ (@andp_l) December 21, 2019
The challenge’s goal has resonated with many who say that sign language wasn’t prioritized in their childhood. They said they’re glad to see the attention the Twitter trend is receiving.
https://twitter.com/Tanaisacrab/status/1208850700630921219
“I was born deaf and got a hearing aid when I was 5,” Twitter user @laberinto wrote. “No one in my family signs. I didn’t even know sign language existed let alone realize it was something I could learn to help me communicate more easily. My parents wanted me to be like a hearing person.”
https://twitter.com/Iaberinto/status/1208871394718687233
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