American Sign Language interpreter Joshua A. Seal, who was killed during the Oct. 25, 2023, mass shooting in Lewiston, was well known for his work during the state’s COVID-19 briefings. (Screenshot via Maine DHHS)
One of the members of Maine’s deaf community killed in the Lewiston mass shooting, Joshua A. Seal, will be posthumously honored during the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened annual award ceremony on Friday.
Seal, who became well known as an American Sign Language interpreter during the state’s COVID-19 briefings, will receive the Clifton F. Rodgers Lifetime Achievement Award during the 33rd ceremony of its kind at the State House in Augusta.
A strong advocate for the deaf community, Seal was one of the 18 people killed in Maine’s worst deadliest mass shooting last fall, which also took the lives of three other members of the state’s deaf community.
Gov. Janet Mills has also issued a proclamation designating the week of Sept. 22-28 as Deaf Culture Week.
“The Deaf community has its own language, culture, history, and traditions which have shaped our state for generations,” Mills wrote in a statement. “During Deaf Culture Week, and every week, the many contributions of Deaf people to the State of Maine should be celebrated.”
Writing that she has been inspired by the resilience of the Deaf community in the wake of the tragedy in Lewiston, Mills promised, “My administration will continue to stand side by side with the Deaf community as we all work to build a more inclusive Maine.”
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Mills called Seal a friend. In addition to interpreting for state press conferences, Seal was the director of interpreting services at Pine Tree Society in Scarborough and before that worked as an educational technician for the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Six other people will also be presented with awards on Friday for their contributions to Deaf culture in Maine. They include:
Julie A. Novack: Promoting of American Sign Language, Deaf Culture and Deaf People Award
ABEL Celestino: Citizenship Youth Award
Betsy Hopkins: Ginny Hewes Advocate for the Needs of the Deaf Community Award
Erika L. Martinez: Outstanding Citizenship Award
Sisters in Style: Special Commendation Award
Marisa Zastrow: Dr. Toni H. Rees Interpreter Award
The keynote address will be given by Kellynette Gomez, adult service navigator at the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, board member for Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc., and an advocate for accessible resources and employment opportunities for hard-of-hearing communities.
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