Deanne Bray

About Deanne Bray

Born mostly deaf from an unknown cause. Completely deaf in right ear, some residual hearing in left ear in which she uses a hearing aid. Enjoys reading, especially with deaf children. Also enjoys attending deaf community events. Role models include Phyllis Frelich, Linda Bove, Freda Norman and Sue Thomas. In addition to acting, also teaches American Sign Language.
Bray was first discovered while performing with the Deaf dance troupe "Prism West". She has also worked with California's Deaf West Theatre and the National Theatre of the Deaf. Bray straddles both the hearing and deaf worlds, communicating both through spoken English and also American Sign Language.

While teaching math and history to deaf and hard of hearing students in an East Los Angeles high school, she founded and personally funded, a reading club to benefit deaf and hard of hearing students. The success of the "Little Bookworm Club" earned her a grant from the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program - a program recognizing outstanding teaching and instructional creativity in public secondary schools serving economically disadvantaged students.
She and her colleague wrote a book in 60 days. "Grow with Your Child" for hearing parents with Deaf children filled with games and activities to learn sign languages with specific grammatical features. Sign Language Curriculum for families.

She encourages the cast and crew of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (2002) to learn American Sign Language, and partners with writing staff on plot-lines and scripts - her suggestions are largely based on many different deaf individuals. In addition, several deaf and hard-of-hearing people have been hired as extras, editors, and ASL Masters on the show. Often because there is a different director each week, Bray works closely with him or her to block scenes, ensuring her character is able to see what other characters are saying.