American Sign Language interpreter Matt Maxey took the stage at Palatine High School last Friday, speaking to students about his struggles with communication and his opportunities to tour with famous musicians, such as Chance the Rapper .

“Being a hip-hop sign language interpreter, we’re outside the norm and the usual standard of sign language interpreting,” Maxey said. “Your mission is to make sure that this audience, who never really experienced listening to music, can see it in a way that they can relate to it.”

During all lunch periods on Sept. 20, Maxey performed numerous rap songs, spoke on his experiences, and taught the audience the chorus to Logic’s “1-800-273-8255” with the help of volunteers from Palatine’s own ASL Club.

“There were times when it was super quiet,” ASL Club staff sponsor Alyssa Moreno said. “And I would just look, and everyone was applauding in sign language. Even Matt, who was looking down, he told me, like ‘Maybe I messed up,’ and then he looked up, and everyone was applauding. He just took a step back, because he was just wowed by it.”

Matt Maxey was born hard of hearing, relying on hearing aids to assist with verbal communication until he learned ASL in college, attempting to bridge the gaps between his identity of a double minority in terms of race and disability. Since then, he has dedicated himself towards Deafinitely Dope, his own company dedicated to providing support and spreading awareness for those who feel isolated by hearing loss.

For more information on Deaf culture and sign language, ASL Club meets every Wednesday at 7:30am in room 208. ASL Club will also be fundraising through football concessions during the homecoming game. 

“We are going to try to have [Matt Maxey] come every year,” Moreno said. “But we need to raise money in order to get people interested to have him again.”