English scripts and source texts
Students work with short scenes, monologues, memoir excerpts, speeches, myths, and original writing prompts.
Malka Foundation presents
Deaf Story Lab
An ASL-first theatre and literacy program helping Deaf students turn stories, scripts, and lived experience into English on the page and presence on the stage.
Original charitable scope
To educate and assist Deaf people by providing sign language service for online educational programs.
Modern program expression
Deaf Story Lab turns that scope into a language-rich education program: ASL access, script reading, theatre-making, and bilingual storytelling.
01 / The Opportunity
A literacy program that does not treat language as a worksheet.
Deaf students are often asked to become literate through systems that underuse visual language, performance, memory, translation, and embodied communication. Theatre gives those capacities a serious educational structure.
ASL-first interpretation
The group explores what the text means visually, emotionally, and dramatically before reducing it to a school assignment.
Stage presence and public voice
Students rehearse, receive feedback, and perform work for families, peers, educators, funders, and community partners.
English on the page
Each student leaves with revised writing: a monologue, reflection, scene, artist statement, or personal narrative.
02 / Artistic Leadership
Led by Deaf artistic and educational expertise.
Deaf Story Lab is designed around the leadership of Deaf artist-educators: performers, directors, writers, and teachers who understand theatre as a serious path to language, dignity, and self-command.
The founding artistic advisor will help shape the curriculum, coach teaching artists, guide student showcases, and ensure that every part of the program honors Deaf culture, visual language, humor, access, and student dignity.
Leadership scope
- Shape the eight-week Deaf Story Lab curriculum.
- Lead monthly online performance labs.
- Coach the teaching artist standard and showcase format.
- Advise on Deaf culture, theatre, humor, access, and student dignity.
- Support selected partner conversations and public presentations.
03 / Pilot Design
Small enough to launch. Strong enough to prove.
Middle-school, high-school, or transition-age Deaf learners.
Weekly online labs plus optional local rehearsal/showcase days.
Each student creates writing and performance material.
Writing confidence, reading engagement, attendance, and public voice.
What Support Creates
A visible proof point for Deaf education.
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1
A launchable Deaf Story Lab curriculum and teaching artist model.
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2
A student showcase suitable for parents, schools, donors, and press.
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3
Before/after student writing samples and filmed performance excerpts.
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A replicable program that can grow into schools, online cohorts, and community theatres.
04 / Support the Pilot
Help launch the first Deaf Story Lab cohort.
The first pilot will pair Deaf artistic leadership with a concrete eight-week program, documented student growth, and a public showcase for families, schools, donors, and community partners.
Pilot target
$150k-$250k
Covers advisor compensation, teaching artists, interpreting/access, curriculum development, student support, filming, evaluation, administration, and the first public showcase.
Next Step
Partner on the first cohort.
Malka Foundation is seeking pilot partners across Deaf education, theatre, youth literacy, philanthropy, and community programming.
Contact
robert@malkarobert.com
Reach out to discuss pilot sites, artistic leadership, sponsorship, or community partnerships.