Jaz Elise calls for more inclusion for hearing impaired
Sign language interpreter Mandy Cowan’s dream of being on stage made a reality
Published:Tuesday | February 28, 2023 | 12:48 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
Singer-songwriter Jaz Elise called on Mandy Cowan to deliver sign language throughout her performance at The Lost In Time Festival.
“After seeing more than one international artiste, who I love, include an interpreter, it reassured me that I could have that feature. It is very important, though many may say it’s not a necessity, but I feel a lot of time, we do not consider the hearing impaired especially because its music,” Jaz Elise told The Gleaner.
“It may not be normal to our culture or space, but it is time to consider it and the role I play in this, is getting it normalised on our stages and to have people see the importance of inclusion for those who may or cannot consume our music like the general audience,” she continued.
Jaz Elise is not the only artiste pushing for greater inclusivity. Most recently, international recording superstar and beauty business mogul Rihanna included a sign language interpreter during her performance at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show earlier this month
The Elevated singer-songwriter was introduced to Cowan via social media after she posted a video of her hand-signing the lyrics of one of her songs. Communication between the two women started ever since then, and the idea to partner for a live performance blossomed but Jaz Elise wanted for them to show its relevance on a major stage.
She said, “I wanted to do it at a big event that would get the most eyes and opportunity. Lost In Time was definitely the stage for it. Although I came late into the time I was scheduled, we made it and I believe it made an impact.”
Cowan explained that she has been learning and practising sign language “from birth” because her mother is hearing impaired.
“I’ve had to get familiarised with communicating this way with my mom, who is deaf, from the early stages of my childhood. Signing was actually my first language,” the sign language interpreter shared.
She shared she was anxious prior to making her music festival debut but appeared in her element as she signed and successfully hit the right moves in her choreography. She admitted that interpreting music is 10 times faster than speech, “but being able to dance, it made it somewhat easier to execute”.
Cowan added, “To be able to incorporate my two passions together made it all the more rewarding. I’d hope there were persons who were hearing impaired or had relatives with hearing or speech disabilities and became optimistic that they could enjoy the music festivals of the future once the feature of a sign language interpreter is added on stage.”
She applauded Jaz Elise’s effort, noting that just being able to join her on stage, and for a cause, was a major accomplishment.
“Jaz Elise’s initiative is commendable. For me, it is the best thing ever, a dream made a reality. I’m not being biased because she hired me or for the reason that she is one of my favourite artistes; truth is, she never had to give any attention to the original video I had shared on social media or even take the step further to welcome me on a stage. I’m forever grateful and look forward to doing it again in the future,” Cowan said.