ABC FAMILY'S "SWITCHED AT BIRTH" PRESENTS AN ALL AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) EPISODE, A FIRST FOR MAINSTREAM TELEVISION, AIRING MONDAY, MARCH 4 AT 8:00 ET/PT

Carlton's Students Rally to Save Their School in a Story Inspired by the Real-Life 1988 Gallaudet University Protests

Burbank, CA (February 19, 2013) - In an all-new episode of "Switched at Birth" told entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), the students at Carlton School for the Deaf protest to keep their school open. The ground-breaking episode, a first for a scripted series on mainstream television, will air Monday, March 4 at 8:00PM ET/PT on ABC Family.

When news of the school's closing spreads throughout campus, Daphne leads the students of Carlton School for the Deaf in arranging a demonstration to take place on the eve of the "Romeo and Juliet" play, in which Daphne has the lead role. Meanwhile, as one of a handful of hearing students in the school, Bay's attempt to be part of the campaign is challenged.

The storyline was inspired by the real-life "Deaf President Now" protests at Gallaudet University that took place 25 years ago this March.

"Switched at Birth" is executive-produced by Lizzy Weiss ("Blue Crush"), Paul Stupin ("Make It or Break It"), Becky Hartman Edwards ("Parenthood") and John Ziffren ("Melissa & Joey," "Make It or Break It"). The series stars Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano ("Gilmore Girls") as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie ("George Lopez") as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett ("Friday Night Lights") as John Kennish; Lea Thompson ("Back to the Future," "Caroline in the City") as Kathryn Kennish; Lucas Grabeel ("High School Musical") as Toby Kennish; Sean Berdy as Emmett Bledsoe; and Gilles Marini ("Brothers and Sisters") as Angelo Sorrento with guest star Marlee Matlin ("The West Wing").

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