Signs & Wonders

In a world that too often overlooks race and disability in the same breath, Valerie McMillan, a Black interpreter and only hearing child of deaf adults (OHCODA), confronts a legacy of silence spanning five generations, revealing not just one woman’s journey but a call to reimagine accessibility, representation, and justice for Black Deaf families today.

Signs & Wonders is a 30-minute short documentary following Valerie McMillan, a Black interpreter and the only hearing child of Deaf adults (OHCODA), as she navigates her dual role as advocate and daughter while carrying the weight of five generations of silence in her family. Through her lived experiences, from interpreting court visits and medical appointments as a child to balancing motherhood, her professional work, and the writing of her first book, the film expands into a portrait of the Black Deaf community in eastern North Carolina, where language, faith, and resilience shape identity. Alongside Valerie’s family and community, the documentary explores the nuances of Black American Sign Language (BASL), generational trauma, and everyday survival, while raising broader questions about access, education, healthcare, legal disparities, and the role of technology for Black Deaf families. Signs & Wonders is both Valerie’s personal journey and a collective testimony to what it means to be heard, seen, and fully included.

Director | Lori Webster

Producer | Tatiana M. Johnson