The Sheletta Show at the State Fair honors Deaf Awareness Month by hiring ASL interpreters

In honor of September’s designation as Deaf Awareness Month, broadcaster and media personality Sheletta Brundidge decided to use profits from ShelettMakesMeLaugh.com, her media and marketing company, to pay for the sign language interpreters for an often overlooked and underserved group: deaf and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans.

Brundidge said recent media coverage highlighting the generosity of Dolly Parton motivated her to expand her outreach.

“I looked at how Dolly lived her life and went out of her way to use her blessings to bless people who could do nothing for her,” Brundidge said.

When Brundidge hosted her final live broadcast from the Minnesota State Fair on Sept 5, she welcomed Nathan Tucker and Ali Pritchett, two ASL interpreters she hired from Keystone Interpreting Solutions.

“It was amazing to watch how they interacted with the crowd! When I got excited, they got excited,” Brundidge said.

Brundidge’s live broadcast from the 830WCCO Radio front porch attracted a crowd of her fans who made a point of coming to see her and other fairgoers who simply enjoyed the experience of watching a live show.

“I have fans who can’t hear; I run into them in community. The Minnesota State Fair is for everybody. I wanted them to be able to get in on the fun and laughs, too,” Brundidge said.

For generations, Minnesota broadcasters have enhanced the State Fair experience for their fans by offering fans the opportunity to meet their favorite broadcasters and watch them at work. Sign language interpreters have seldom if ever been present during their presentations.

The State Fair does provide ASL interpreters for many of its events but Brundidge admitted that she didn’t ask in time to access a reserve interpreter for her show. That’s why she used her own money for Tucker and Pritchett to join her for her program from noon to 3 pm on Saturday.

State Fair marketing and guest services supervisor Blaire Huneke said that the fair adds to accessibility and guest services ever year,  pointing to inclusivity updates like sensory-friendly spaces, blind and low vision services, and adult-size changing.

“When (others) get on board with this mission and also provide accessibility services, it only helps enhance this mission even more,” said Huneke said.

Brundidge said she wants other broadcasters who bring their programs to State Fair audiences every year will take steps in the future to become more accessible to their deaf and hard-of-hearing fans.

“I hope this inspires other broadcasters to follow my lead and book interpreters at their shows so all people at the fair can experience a live show. We are missing this audience,” she said. “Broadcasters can level the playing field. It’s up to us.”