Marlee Matlin : (4) " It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I’m not crazy about using. " - Marlee Matlin " My parents were the ones who gave me the independence, who gave me the spark to do anything that you set your mind to, as all parents should do for their kids. " - Marlee Matlin " It seems we’re always in transition and that it’s more about trends than it is about what’s meaningful. " - Marlee Matlin " I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to sign when I was 5 years old. " - Marlee Matlin