Around 15 percent of Americans have trouble hearing, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For the almost 70,000 in the Greater Dallas area, performing arts organizations rarely offer disability resources and programming geared towards the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

North Texas Performing Arts’ new Deaf Theatre program aims to change that, with productions and educational programming by and for the deaf community. The goal is not only for people who are deaf and hard of hearing to enjoy the art form, but to see themselves on stage as performers.

“We want to make sure that they feel like they are at home with us,” said the program’s director, Daymond Sands, via an American Sign Language interpreter. “They can really build that dream for themselves, and with us, they can see the pathway more clearly. Like in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ I think that NTPA set up that yellow brick road.”

Learn more: