Luke and Margie on The Amazing Race

In another example of a person with a disability shattering negative stereotypes, this season of The Amazing Race on CBS features Luke Adams, the show’s first contestant who is deaf. Luke has been deaf since birth and has relied on Margie to be his voice to the world. The pair has developed their own shorthand sign language, and hope that their ability to communicate non-verbally will give them something of an advantage as the race wears on.

Through two legs, Luke and his mom Margie have emerged as one of the strongest teams on the show. They won the first leg of the race which aired last Sunday, taking home a trip for two to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for their efforts. In the episode that aired last night, a cake-covered Luke and Margie arrived at the mat 4th, keeping them in good position to be serious challengers as the race progresses.

Luke hopes that his appearance on The Amazing Race will be an inspiration to other individuals who are deaf. From the official The Amazing Race page on CBS.com, Luke says he wants to “be a role-model for deaf people everywhere while proving that the deaf can do just about anything and to never think otherwise”. He’s already won over his competition, as many have expressed that sentiment. Judging by the show's fan page, it appears he’s winning over the public too.