Deaf Discrimination: Behind the Scenes at ABC's "What Would You Do?"

ABC News worked with RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf and hired two of its theater students for a segment of their hidden camera show, "What Would You Do? The show depicts awkward situations and ethical challenges with actors and sees whether those witnessing the actions speak up or do nothing. The girls were applying for a job at a coffee shop in Morristown, N.J. and were told they wouldn't be hired because they are deaf. More than two dozen crew members worked behind the scenes in the shop's basement, a technician truck behind the store and in cars parked on the street. The final shots with the cameras are recreations for additional shots.

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Tags:

• Deaf
• discrimination
• NTID
• RIT
• RIT/NTID
• ABC
• News
• coffee
• job
• applications
• television
• hidden
• camera
• Rochester.

[LtPowers99]

Gosh, the scene around 5:30-6:30 makes me really uncomfortable, even knowing they're actors.

[NTIDnews]

That's the point. Be sure to check out the story about the shoot at ntid.rit.edu/news/what-would-y­ou-do and watch the show on ABC Fri. 4/4/11 at 9 p.m. EST.

[kalijasin]

I'm sure the Barista would change their minds quickly about the Deaf if they were sued.

[kalijasin]

People think this is alright, but how's it alright when it is illegal?

[uz2cry]

i love that the hearing director looks directly at the deaf actors, and not at the interpreter! VERY RESPECTFUL!

[kalijasin]

disgraceful!!!

[L0veS0ftball123]

its so sad that this still happens these days.

It happened to me last month where I applied to a youth group home for practicum with school. I mentioned to them that I was hearing impaired, but use a cochlear implant and they wouldn't take me.