Editing Marlee Matlin (section)

== Activism ==
[[File:Marlee Matlin at Maiersdorf Conference Center in Israel June 2017.jpg|thumb|Matlin speaking at the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] in 2017]]
Matlin is actively involved with charitable organizations such as [[Easterseals (U.S.)|Easter Seals]] (where she was appointed an Honorary board member), the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, [[Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation]], [[VSA arts]], and the [[Red Cross]] Celebrity Cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 4, 2007|title=Marlee Matlin, The Gift of Silence: A Conversation with Marlee Matlin|url=http://www.voicesinc.com/Pages/marlee_matlin.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602131247/http://voicesinc.com/Pages/marlee_matlin.html|archive-date=June 2, 2007|publisher=Voices Inc.com}}</ref> She has been a strong advocate for the [[rights of deaf people]], accepting television roles only if producers commit to caption the films, remaining openminded and respectful of both signed and spoken communication preferences, and promoting telephone equipment specifically designed for deaf persons. She has testified before the [[Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources]] in support of the establishment of the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders. Matlin has also been active in the fight against AIDS, the "Victory Awards" for the [[MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital|National Rehabilitation Hospital]], and other causes.<ref name="Greenwood Press" /> She is also a lifetime member of Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 8, 2022 |title=Marlee Matlin |url=https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/matlin-marlee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627095305/https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/matlin-marlee |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |access-date=June 27, 2022}}</ref> Matlin has been a frequent guest narrator at [[Disney's Candlelight Processional]] at [[Walt Disney World]].<ref>[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2019/09/20/epcot-disney-adds-isabella-rossellini-marlee-matlin-to-candlelight-processional-narrator-list/ ''OrlandoSentinel'' Disney Adds Martlin to Candlelight] accessed 08-19-2023</ref>
Matlin received an honorary [[Doctorate of Humane Letters]] degree from [[Gallaudet University]] in 1987.<ref name="honorary">{{cite web |title=Transcript of honorary degree ceremony at Gallaudet |url=http://saveourdeafschools.org/marlee_matlin_honorary_degree_transcript_1987.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120202/http://saveourdeafschools.org/marlee_matlin_honorary_degree_transcript_1987.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Photo in 1987 Gallaudet Tower Clock yearbook |url=http://gallyprotest.org/tower_clock_1987_page_368.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083134/http://gallyprotest.org/tower_clock_1987_page_368.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name="gallaudet">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080314031620/http://www.gallaudet.edu/x4988.xml ''Profile: Marlee Matlin'']. Gallaudet University. Access date: December 26, 2007.</ref> In 1988, Matlin received the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Winners – Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 Years or Under |url=http://www.jeffersonawards.org/pastwinners/national |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124043935/http://jeffersonawards.org/pastwinners/national |archive-date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=November 9, 2015 |website=jeffersonawards.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=James H. |date=June 21, 1988 |title=Koop, Marlee Matlin Win Awards for Public Service |url=https://apnews.com/e6f541e226f925b86124f0b16e970cd1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815102333/http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1988/Koop-Marlee-Matlin-Win-Awards-for-Public-Service/id-e6f541e226f925b86124f0b16e970cd1 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |access-date=November 9, 2015 |work=Associated Press News}}</ref> In 1991, Matlin received the Bernard Bragg Young Artists Achievement Award at the Annual International Creative Arts Festival sponsored by the Center on Deafness in Chicago.<ref name="Greenwood Press" /> Matlin was appointed by President [[Bill Clinton]] in 1994 as a member of the Board of Directors of the [[Corporation for National and Community Service]] and served as chair of [[National Volunteer Week]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Marlee Matlin Biography |url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/artist/A60279 |access-date=12 December 2015 |publisher=The Kennedy Center |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325174624/http://www.kennedy-center.org/artist/A60279 |url-status=live}}</ref> Matlin was a participant in the first-ever national television advertising campaign supporting donations to Jewish federations. The program featured "film and television personalities celebrating their Jewish heritage and promoting charitable giving to the Jewish community" and included [[Greg Grunberg]], [[Joshua Malina]], [[Kevin Weisman]], and [[Jonathan Silverman]].<ref name="JewishFederations">[http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=69595 "Film and Television Celebrities Promote Jewish Federations in First-Ever National Television Advertising Campaign – Jewish Stars Promote Federations' Initiatives and Mission"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103142605/http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=69595|date=November 3, 2013}}, Jewish Federations of North America, August 2, 2004.</ref>

In October 2007, she was appointed to the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees.<ref name="gallaudet" /> On July 26, 2010, Matlin signed a speech at an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]].<ref>[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/20th-anniversary-americans-with-disabilities-act 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522090914/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/20th-anniversary-americans-with-disabilities-act|date=May 22, 2022}}, The White House. [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/video/20th-anniversary-americans-with-disabilities-act] </ref> In the following year, Matlin was a finalist on the NBC show ''[[The Celebrity Apprentice]],'' competing to win money for her charity, The [[Starkey Hearing Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Celebrity Apprentice|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2016/10/14/marlee-matlin-responds-trump-insult-celebrity-apprentice/92065842/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015114119/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2016/10/14/marlee-matlin-responds-trump-insult-celebrity-apprentice/92065842/|archive-date=2016-10-15|access-date=|website=|publisher=[[Hulu]]}}</ref> finishing in second place. However, on one episode of ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', "The Art of the Deal", which was transmitted on April 3, 2011, she raised more funds than had ever been raised for charity in a single event on any television show before, $986,000.<ref name="disabled-world12">[http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/hearing/marlee-matlin.php "SignTalk Joins Fundraiser for Marlee Matlin's Cause..."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319160940/https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/hearing/marlee-matlin.php |date=March 19, 2023 }}, disabled-world.com, May 12, 2011.</ref> [[Donald Trump]], who was then hosting ''The Celebrity Apprentice,'' donated an additional $14,000 to make the contribution an even million.<ref name="disabled-world12" />

{{as of|2015|January|}}, Matlin acts as the [[American Civil Liberties Union|ACLU]]'s celebrity ambassador for disability rights.<ref>{{cite web|title=ACLU Ambassadors – Marlee Matlin|url=https://www.aclu.org/ambassadors|access-date=5 January 2015|publisher=aclu.olrg (American Civil Liberties Union)|archive-date=March 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325064755/https://www.aclu.org/ambassadors|url-status=live}}</ref> As a "celebrity ambassador" for the ACLU, in attempts to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the deaf community, Matlin discussed the communication barriers when deaf individuals are stopped by the police.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 22, 2018|title=Marlee Matlin on Deaf And Police Interaction|url=https://www.aclu.org/video/marlee-matlin-deaf-and-police-interaction|website=ACLU|access-date=March 22, 2018|archive-date=May 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526061717/https://www.aclu.org/video/marlee-matlin-deaf-and-police-interaction|url-status=live}}</ref> In recognition of her philanthropic work and her advocacy for the inclusion of people with disabilities, Matlin received the 2016 [[Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion]], a $120,000 prize given annually by [[Jay Ruderman]] of the Ruderman Family Foundation to one individual whose work excels at promoting disability inclusion. She won the [[Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards]] for disability advocacy in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=2014 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipients |url=https://www.viscardicenter.org/past-hvaa-recipients/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325180128/https://www.viscardicenter.org/past-hvaa-recipients/ |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=November 19, 2017 |website=Viscardi Center}}</ref>