Tell us about yourself and your role on Alma’s Way.
My name is Anjel Piñero, and I am a native New Yorker who was born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx. I interpreted the role of Alma in Alma's Way.
Did you do any research to prepare to be an interpreter for Alma’s Way?
As an actor myself, I always immerse myself in the roles that I am offered so I can fully embody the character as written into the show. Alma's role resonated with me deeply because she and I share many similarities. Both of us are Nuyoricans, born and raised in New York by the 6 train line, among other things.
Is signing for children different from signing for adults?
Oh, definitely. For this show, there is a lot of lingo spoken in Spanish and the New York language. I made sure I was able to interpret that so the kids can have better access to and understanding of those linguistic nuances as well. That was something I wish I had growing up, and now that this is accessible for the kids, it never ceases to amaze me how their language understanding integrates the lingo into their self-expression.
What’s something you wish everyone knew about ASL?
Just do it. A lot of people are usually scared of making mistakes when learning a language, and I encourage people to jump into it and get involved with the Deaf community. Once you do, you're already on the fast track to becoming proficient in this language and making a difference.
What was your favorite TV show when you were growing up?
SpongeBob SquarePants, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Fairly OddParents—any shows from the '90s to the 2010s from Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney were my favorites.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
When I'm not working, I love to travel and am always looking for opportunities to further my acting, modeling, and now pageantry careers so I can continue to make a difference in the ASL community worldwide.