Jodee Mundy Creative Director explains what the deaf community can teach the non deaf community about listening and exploring why the deaf community are the best listeners

My guest today is Jodee Mundy an independent Creative Producer and Artistic Director. Jodee’s work points to a future beyond inclusion where the diversity is as valuable as the art. She also grew up as the only hearing person in a deaf family.

Jodee knew her family was deaf, but she didn’t realize that they couldn’t hear until an incident when she got lost in a local store. Jodee brings a unique perspective about what the deaf community can teach the non-deaf community about listening. We also explore why the deaf community are actually better listeners.

Today’s Topics:

Jodee was born into a deaf family. She is the only one who can hear. Jodee didn’t realize her family was deaf until she got lost in Kmart as a child. She grew up in the culture of signing and lights flashing. Becoming an interpreter and blending into the environment. Adding, subtracting, and substituting information in Auslan. Interpreting for the Dalai Lama. Listening with your whole mind and body. How the deaf community is completely welcoming to everyone who can sign. How deaf people are great at charades, and they are not defined by language. The power of silence and speaking with our eyes. The extraordinary capacity of humans to communicate.

Links and Resources:

Jodee Mundy Website

Jodee on Twitter @JodeeMundy

Auslan

 

Quotes:

“I knew my family was deaf, but I didn’t realize that it meant that they couldn’t hear.”  Jodee Mundy

“When interpreting, you have to change the source message into the source language.”  Jodee Mundy

“Auslan is a three dimensional language that is like an incredibly dense comic strip.”  Jodee Mundy

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