154 Part 1 Basic Communication Processes
❶ Do you think the hosts
and judges of Project Run-
way knew instinctively to
look at Justin, rather than
the interpreter, or is that a
skill they had to learn? If
you are not familiar with
Deaf culture, what would
you instinctively do?
❷ If you are part of Deaf
culture, does it please you
to see Justin treated this
way? Do you think that
the hearing cast members
were competent listeners?
➌ What is the interpreter’s
role here? Should she
have gotten some kind
of billing or place in the
story? Why or why not?
➍ Few would advocate
turning to reality TV for
lessons in etiquette of
any kind. How did Project
Runway’s treatment of
Justin’s disability compare
with that of persons with
disabilities on other televi-
sion shows?A Quick Lesson in Deaf Etiquette
In the 2013 season of the popular reality competition show Project Runway,
one of the twelve designers vying for the big prize was Justin LeBlanc. Like
the other designers, Justin had high hopes for launching his own fashion
line: he was ready and eager to work tight deadlines on the challenges doled
out by host Heidi Klum and was grateful for the helpful advice of mentor Tim
Gunn and the mostly constructive critiques of the show’s three judges. But
unlike his fellow competitors, Justin did not look Klum, Gunn, or the judges
in the eye when they spoke. Instead, he watched his interpreter, who trans-
lated their words into American Sign Language (ASL) for him. LeBlanc is deaf;
although he has a cochlear implant, he remains dependent on ASL for most
of his communication.
It’s not surprising, of course, that Justin—given his passions and in-
terests—wanted to compete in a reality show, particularly one that could
launch a successful career in a fiercely competitive industry. Many people
were surprised, however, by how the show handled Justin’s disability. For the
most part, they ignored it by listening to him. The producers provided Justin
with an interpreter and then, essentially, got out of the way. The interpreter
sometimes appeared on camera but was never introduced or identified.
Klum, Gunn, and the other contestants looked at Justin when speaking to
him, even though he was focusing on their words through the interpreter’s
signs. As Deaf1 advocate writer Lilit Marcus [herself a Child of Deaf Adults
(CODA)] notes, the Project Runway cast and crew did not exclude Justin from
the conversation and interaction: they truly listened to him and “clearly got a
quick lesson in Deaf etiquette” (Marcus, 2013).THINK
ABOUT
THISCOMMUNICATIONACROSSCULTURES
When you don’t understand something, you need to listen more actively. For
example, you might ask Brett questions to learn more about the economics terms
or his situation (Husband, 2009).Behavioral Component
The third component involves showing the person that you understand and
remember the information given—the behavioral component of listening.
As a student, you know it’s important to recall information from class during
an exam, and it continues to count in real-life situations. Remembering, or
recalling information, contributes to perceptions of competence in interactions
far beyond the classroom (Muntigl & Choi, 2010). If you don’t recall what hap-
pened in your conversation with Brett, he might be annoyed later when he tells
you about how his dilemma turned out and you stare vacantly at him. Both your
words and your nonverbal behaviors should communicate that you remember.