I recently had the opportunity to chat with D-Pan founder, Sean Forbes, via videophone. D-Pan is a company that produces popular music videos signed in American Sign Language. Sean became deaf at the age of one from spinal meningitis. The son of two musicians, Sean was the only one of his two brothers to pursue a career in the music field. Sean grew up in the mainstream and learned American Sign Language as a young adult.
Sean compiled a collection of songs signed with American Sign Language and produced a DVD titled, D-Pan, It’s Everybody’s Music, Volume I. Included in the DVD:
“Waiting on The World To Change” By John Mayer
“Beautiful” By Christina Aguilera
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” Performed by Sponge
Community Created ASL Music Video’s
Signing Songs: The Making of D-PAN Music Videos (Mini-Documentary)
Special Features & More!
All of the videos are closed captioned and subtitled on the DVD. Each of the D-PAN performers receive a royalty based on sales revenue. All of the sales from the music videos will fund upcoming projects.
As a special to the readers of A Deaf Mom Shares Her World, Sean is giving away a free copy of the D-Pan, It’s Everybody’s Music DVD. Everyone who leaves a comment below will be entered into the free give away. The deadline for this is Monday, September 22 at midnight. The winner will be chosen by Random.org. You must enter your email in the field (email will not be shown) and the winner will be notified on Tuesday. D-Pan will send the DVD directly to the winner.
Comment away!
Comments
30 responses to “Enter the D-Pan ASL Music Give Away Here!”
I think D-Pan is one of the “up and coming” groups to be recognized as professional performers.
I love their spunk, their creativity, and their ability to convey the meanings of the lyrics.
Hats off to them!
Lucky
Oh Wow! This is fabulous. While my son isn’t deaf – he has autism, and was unable to speak for a long time – we used sign and a picture exchange system (PECS). He has an auditory processing disorder so he READS everything. We watch all our TV and movies with closed captions on them – because the people speak too fast most of the time for him to follow along. I love the idea of music being interpreted in this fashion.
Very cool.
I think this is a great idea! My first husband became hearing impaired after a stroke, and wore hearing aids in both ears. Although I never became proficient at signing, we did come up with some symbols and our own way of communicating to make it easier on him. I think it’s wonderful that there is a way for everyone to be able to enjoy music – because it really does feed the soul.
I’m really enjoying reading your blog and am so glad I found you!
Warmly,
Cheryl
This is fabulous! I am hearing impaired (wear 2 hearing aids), and I have a music degree. Yes, I can teach music. I tell people it’s all about quality, not quantity!
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trying for the give-away! have friends in the videos. they’re great.
My kids watch D-Pan and love it. My 7yo son, Randy, is HOH along with a language disorder and other challenges. Though he can have a basic conversation with someone, he relies on Sign for memory/learning and complex conversations.
Thru D-Pan, Randy can really enjoy music and really understand what the lyrics are. He loves to watch the videos often and learns the signs of the lyrics. This is a great network and hope that this continues for the long haul.
WOW! I can’t believe I haven’t heard of this before. This sounds awesome and what a great way to ensure that everyone can enjoy songs and music.
I am a member of a “signing choir” and it is a lot of fun and the response from our audiences (deaf and hearing) is always positive.
Sign Singing… Sign Singing….But let’s ROCK IT!
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I loved the Waiting for the World to Change video that I saw posted on the Internet in captions. What a wonderful idea and thanks for this give away.
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Wow i LOVE music and this is just fabulous.
It frustrates me that many of Music dvds here in australia do not contain closed captions. although in some cases they do have it for singalong.
I always believe music is one of the best therapies around and it certainly help you unwind after a long hard day.
I just wish Australia coudl have one of these stuff available here.
Hmmmm …..
Elias
This is incredible – I am hearing, learning ASL, and love to sign to music. Music is a HUGE part of my life. I know how expressive both are and they go together hand in hand (no pun intended!)
I am anxious to see the D-PAN DVD! I hope it takes off on a HUGE level!
I have a degree to teach hearing impaired students, however I work mostly with students with multiple disabilities. This type of technology and innovation allows all types of people access to mainstream culture. Kudos to you!
My daughter is learning sign language in her preschool class, so this would be a great way to teach her even more!
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How exciting! I teach students who are learning English (and I’m HOH) and I always have the captions on. I also teach them fingerspelling and some ASL signs. It helps them learn. I think they would enjoy this also.
I love DPAN and am glad you are spreading the word!
Wow! I think that is great that someone out there still things about the people who cannot enjoy music. I can still, for the most part, enjoy music, although i miss parts lol. I don’t know ASL yet but I am on the verge of learning and taking ASL as my minor in university:) It’s also really great that you are promoting them!
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D-Pan is a great source of inspiration- Waiting on the World to Change made me cry (I watched that one shortly after Nolan’s diagnosis- and again after he lost a little more hearing). It really strikes a chord (in more ways than one) and I always look forward to their new videos. I keep hoping they’ll do one for/about deaf and hard of hearing kids that live in rural areas, who feel like they’re the only ones who have hearing loss.
Hi I am glad to see music DVD videos out that are signed and captioned!! I loved music and always want to know the lyrics. Not many music dvd are captioned 🙂 Thanks for the swell information!
Thats great, hope D-Pan makes more. I loved waiting for world to change and kept checking for new ones and nothing since. The DVD sounds great. 🙂 Kris
Wow, I would be happy to show this video to the kids at school. They would love to see more signing songs.
I never heard of it myself – I will be happy to see this D-Pan musical dvd. Thanks for the information.
WOOOOW…
I am extatic my son is 9 years old..and i think he would absolutley love this video…i didn’t realize there was anything like this available..thank you for sharing the info…
Hope to see it soon…:)
ah this is so cool!
i write songs but i never sing because i know im kinda bad, but i sign my lyrics. Music is my life thats for sure.
🙂
Wow this is a great contest and what a great idea! I am deaf, and grew up loving music with what hearing I had to hear. Now I work with children with austim. I help by teaching them some sign language so they can communicate if they’re unable to verbalize what they want or need.
My 3 year-old daughter is developmentally delayed with Cerebral Palsy. She does not have the motor skills to speak so we used ASL that she adapted for herself. She would love this video.
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Wow! That’s such an awesome idea! I’ve been frustrated for YEARS because I can’t really enjoy the music the way I’d like to. I most likely will check D-Pan out!
That’s awesome! I bet my daughter would really love it. I missed the deadline to comment, but thought I would post anyway! D-Pan should continue to sign more popular music, I think they could really be on to something!
[…] had 25 entries for the D-Pan DVD Giveaway and thanks to Random.org, we have a […]
this is great! I am legally deaf (8% of my hearing left) and would love something like this!
I didn’t know about this until reading about it on Hands and Voices… very cool!
I am very pleased at the videos I have seen regarding asl. I have a hearing impaired grandchild who is teaching me a lot of sign for a 16 month old. She is fabulous and I am learning more and more sign each day. She loves music and dances when it is playing. If I don’t win or get a copy where do I go to buy.