3rd Generation Deaf · Builder · Advocate

Not all those who wander are lost

From television sets to telecom boardrooms to restaurant kitchens to advocating for ASL accessibility and recognition. Nearly four decades of making, building, leading, learning, and advocating at the intersection of the Deaf community and the hearing world.

Explore My Journey
Darrell Utley
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About

A life lived across worlds

I'm Darrell, a 3rd generation Deaf individual, an entrepreneur at heart and lifelong advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing. My career has taken me from childhood television roles on network shows to leading quality assurance and sales in the telecommunications industry, to the opening day of a Deaf-owned restaurant and promoting ASL accessibility all across. The thread through all of it: I believe the Deaf community holds untapped socio-economic power, and my work has always been about finding new ways to unlock it, whether through technology, education, business, or community organizing.

Away from the work, I'm a proud father of two Deaf daughters and a partner to my wife since 2002, a beautiful soul who keeps our family grounded and growing together.

35+ Years in the Industry
3rd Generation Deaf
10 States Managed
Career

The journey so far

2025 – Present
Creative Supervisor, QC
Amazon · Deluxe
Quality control supervision for creative content production, ensuring accessibility and production standards at scale.
2022 – Present
Community-Based Sign Language Instructor
The Sign Language Center
Teaching ASL via Zoom for a private company, including tutoring and ASL assessment. Bridging language gaps and building cultural understanding between the Deaf and hearing worlds, one student at a time.
2008 – 2010
Regional Sales Manager & National QA Analyst
Purple Communications
Led the Northwestern division sales team across 10 states, including community sponsorships, workshops, customer support operations, and daily performance reporting. Central focus on the national QA program analyzing video and text relay service quality, performance metrics, and technical standards.
2004 – 2008
Personal Attendant & Support Living Services Supervisor
STEP, Inc. (Strategies to Empower People)
Coordinated daily support services for developmentally disabled adults, including staff communication, scheduling, and correspondence with parents and social workers. Advanced from personal attendant to supervisor, overseeing client care, medication management, financials, and recreational programming. Completed supervisor training and researched resources to expand community support.
2011 – 2014
Pizzaiolo
Mozzeria
First-hand startup experience from build-out to opening day at a Deaf-owned restaurant. Apprenticed in artisan pizza making, including mobile food operations.
2016 – 2020
Vice-Chair
Model Deaf Community Committee · City of Riverside
Community facilitation, task force planning, and compliance with Brown Act regulations. Organized local DeafNation events and the 20th Anniversary Gala. Active in CAD by-laws committee.
1989 – 1997
Television Actor
Screen Actors Guild
Guest-starring roles on network television as a young Deaf actor, bringing visibility to the Deaf community on screen.
Days of our Lives Family Ties Beverly Hills 90210 Pacific Blue Danielle Steele's Once in a Lifetime
What's Next

Something new is coming

I'm building something at the intersection of technology, accessibility, and the creator economy. It's been a long time in the making.

Spring/Summer 2026

Blog

Thoughts & Writing

Featured · NPR Morning Edition
Teaching DK Metcalf ASL: When Your Student Turns Out to Be an NFL Star
What started as a routine Zoom lesson turned into a national story. NPR covered how a Seahawks receiver learned to sign from a Deaf teacher in Tennessee.
Panel · Comic-Con
Deaf Representation in Pop Culture
From childhood TV roles to a Comic-Con stage. A look at how Deaf representation has evolved in entertainment, and the work still ahead.
January 2026 · 6 min read
A Taste of Deaf-Owned Business That Shifted My Path
Mozzeria was more than a pizza shop. It was a firsthand look at what happens when Deaf entrepreneurs build something on their own terms, and it changed everything I thought I knew about what was possible.
Film · Personal Project
The Noblest Gift
A silent film tribute to George Veditz and his 1913 "Preservation of the Sign Language," the film that inspired me and continues to inspire generations of Deaf people around the world.
Contact

Let's connect

Whether you're interested in the Deaf community, ASL education, accessibility, startups, or just want to say hello, I'd love to hear from you.

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