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Jarkko And Deaf America Season 1

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Closed Captions

Finnish Jarkko Keränen travels to America in search of opportunities for those who, like him, were born deaf. From Rochester to Washington, Atlanta, Austin, and San Francisco, he meets with deaf people who have thrived in their communities.

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Jarkko and Deaf America

Documentary•TV-G•1 Season | 5 Episodes

In the five-part series, Jarkko Keränen, who was born deaf, travels from Rochester on the west coast of the United States to Washington, Atlanta, Austin, Huntsville, and finally to San Fran

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5 Episodes
Jarkko Does Rochester
S1 | E1
•
28 Mins
In the first episode, Jarkko travels to Rochester, New York, which has a large deaf community thanks to innovations at the University of Rochester. He meets with an experienced pilot named Robert, who happens to be deaf. In Finland, deaf pilots cannot get a flight permit, so Jarkko is curious to find out how Robert received his. Then, he meets Carolyn, a doctor who also happens to be deaf, and learns that she has an inner ear implant.
Jarkko Does Atlanta
S1 | E2
•
28 Mins
Jarkko visits Atlanta where he finds a stark divide in the way that deaf black people are treated compared to their white counterparts. He discovers a sign language dialect specific to the region. He meets a woman named DeAnna who helps deaf people that are struggling with drug and alcohol problems, as well as those who are the victims of domestic violence.
Jarkko Does Washington D.C.
S1 | E3
•
28 Mins
Jarkko heads to Washington DC, America’s capital and visits Gallaudet, the world’s only sign language university. He speaks to the students and learns about the culture of their school. Jarkko also meets a deaf human rights activist named Pamela Molino Toledo, as well as a deaf police officer and a deaf teacher. He also confronts the long-standing urban legend that a statue of Abraham Lincoln is secretly using sign language.
Jarkko Does Austin
S1 | E4
•
28 Mins
In Austin, Texas, Jarkko takes a risk when he faces off against Garrett, the winner of the Austin Open Champions Fight tournament, who has also had three inner ear implant surgeries. Jarkko reveals that he was also active in wrestling and mixed martial arts and the two bond over their shared sense of competition; Jarkko meets a vlogger known as “Deaf Ninja” and dines at some of Austin’s best restaurants.
Jarkko Does San Francisco
S1 | E5
•
28 Mins
In San Francisco, Jarkko visits landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and Haight Ashbury. In Silicon Valley, he meets Vadim, who works at a software company named Oracle, who describes what it’s like being a deaf person in a company. Though there are struggres, Vadim ultimately finds the experience very rewarding. Jakko also pays a visit to a pizzeria which is owned and operated by a deaf couple.

Credits

Creators

Salla Lähteenmäki, Päivi-Pauliina Väntönen

Cast

Jarkko Keranen

Director

Päivi-Pauliina Väntönen

Writer

Salla Lähteenmäki

Producers

Jutta Tuomaala, Eero Hietala, Ilkka Hynninen, Hanna Karppinen

Cinematographer

Petri Vilén

Editor

Suvi Ryhänen

Animator

Teemu Âke
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