'We become their ears and their voice:' Local man's true story of growing up as a 'CODA'

For children of deaf adults, or CODAs, the responsibility falls on them at a young age to be their parents' voice and ears. The new movie "CODA," which delves into the world of a CODA, even won an Oscar earlier this week for best actor.

But that's not the only award it won. It also won the praise of Somerset attorney Matt Zatko, who lived his own childhood as the child of deaf parents.

"I thought it was fabulous," Zatko said of the movie.

At first, Zatko was shocked that anyone would think the situation was worthy of a movie, but his mind changed when he saw it.

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"I was amazed by it," he said. "It's very accurate from the standpoint of the roles children of deaf parents play. You become their ears and their voice very early."

Zatko's mother, Susanne (Bittner) Zatko, and her twin sister, Susan, plus his father, Robert Zatko, were all deaf.

When he was 4 years old in 1976, his family bought a phone. Zatko's father was a painter and wallpaper-hanger, so Zatko would be the one to answer the phone and set up appointments. The caller would talk to Zatko who would then sign to his dad or mom and Zatko would relay the message.

"I remember my parents had a baby alarm that, when I would cry, it would flash a light in their bedroom," he said. "Our doorbell was a flashing light in the hallway. And their alarm clock was a light."

Technology now has much improved from his childhood in the 1970s, according to Zatko.

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Now, deaf people can use voice relay systems that do all of the translating. There's also video calling, cellphone apps, interpreters and closed captioning.

"Closed captioning was a big deal in my house," Zatko said. "In the late '70s, early '80s, there were few channels that had it. So we watched 'Little House on the Prarie' and 'Loveboat.' Now you can get live captions on any channel."

Although the movie "CODA" shows some of these modern conveniences in a modern setting, many things have not changed from Zatko's experience.

"Interpreting for my parents at a meeting — that happened," he said. "It was telling for me to watch her parents at her concert. They couldn't hear anything. It reminded me of my parents watching me at school functions."

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Susanne Zatko died in 1993 and Robert Zatko died in 2014.

"I've never been prouder to be a CODA," Zatko said.