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N O V 2 0 1 7 D E C
Most of the time, the majority of the deaf
people you’ll encounter in routine stops have
good will towards you. They may even be a bit
sympathetic: Many deaf people have learned
about Sue Thomas, an American woman who is
regarded as a bit of a hero since she became the
first deaf person to work as an undercover special-
ist doing lip-reading of suspects for the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. But in any case, it’s likely
that a deaf person is probably a bit more anxious
than others you may regularly encounter simply
because of a fear of being misunderstood.
If you find yourself in communication with
a deaf or hard-of-hearing person and you aren’t
sure it is going as well as it could, simply ask in
writing: What sort of aids or assistance do you
need from me?
Almost invariably, deaf and hard-of-hearing
people will deeply appreciate your effort to help,
and be grateful for the respect that you show
them when doing it.
About the Author: Marilyn L. Weber , president and CEO of
DIS, is a certified sign language interpreter and has an adult
daughter who is deaf. Marilyn has been working for more than
25 years promoting accessible communication, and advocat-
ing for the rights of the deaf community. She has interpreted
in thousands of professional situations, and conducts deaf
awareness workshops, cultural diversity training, and ADA
Compliance Consulting. Marilyn has over 2,900 hours of re-
lated professional training. Her husband John has his state of
Texas master peace officer license. Marilyn has received several
awards from various local and national organizations recogniz-
ing her work and dedication to the deaf community.
• Have assistive devices available. With a hard-
of-hearing person, a device that amplifies sound
may be a perfect solution and all you need to
fully communicate. For deaf people, a Commu-
nication Access Real-time Translation (CART)
device can be a great help. CART uses special
software that transcribes everything that is being
said, word-by-word, onto a computer, projection
screen or television that deaf people can read.
If arrested, a deaf person has the same right
to call a friend or lawyer in private that everyone
else has, so any police department you’re work-
ing with to make an arrest will probably already
have in place a video phone that deaf people can
use to make a Video Relay Service (VRS) call.
These video phones connect the deaf person to
an interpreter, who then can pass on their mes-
sages in spoken English to other relevant people.
Deaf rights groups and other advocacy or-
ganizations such as the ACLU are working to
educate deaf people about possible encounters
with law enforcement so that incidents with law
enforcement can go as smoothly as possible. In-
creasingly, deaf people know to keep both their
hands on the wheel if they’re in a car when a law
enforcement agent approaches them, or to use
other methods to alert an officer that they’re deaf
rather than reaching for anything in a pocket in
a way that might cause alarm. One of their first
moves should be to point to their ears – the uni-
versal sign of deafness – to alert an officer that
they’re deaf.
Here are some tips:
• Identify when you need an interpreter. If
you’re just asking for the name and address of
someone at the scene of a crime, you probably
don’t need an interpreter. For longer interactions,
such as an extended interview, on the other hand,
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) re-
quires that law enforcement agencies provide a
deaf person with an interpreter at no charge.
• Generally, don’t use friends or family mem-
bers as interpreters. An emotional connection
between a deaf person and a family member or
companion can constrain or hinder their ability
to translate impartially and accurately. In a few
cases – if your questions are uncomplicated, the
need for information is pressing and the family
member or companion is willing – then you may
use such a person as an interpreter for short con-
versations. But as a rule try to avoid it.
• Don’t rely on written communication. Writ-
ing a note to a deaf person to convey a message
may work for short exchanges, but you really do
need an interpreter for longer interviews. ASL
actually has its own rules, grammar and struc-
ture. Many deaf people speak American Sign
Language (ASL) as their first language, and have
limited knowledge of English as a second lan-
guage that they aren’t fully fluent in. The two
languages have entirely different rules and gram-
mar structures. They aren’t interchangeable, and
you shouldn’t count on using written English
language exchanges for discussing complex de-
tails or incidents involving shades of distinction.
• Understand that there are real limits to lip-
reading. While it’s true that a good number of
deaf and hard-of-hearing people can read lips to
understand the general gist of what a person is
saying, many can’t. Moreover, even the best lip
readers can generally only capture about one
third of the words you speak. Lip readers rely on
body language and context, and any number of
other unspoken cues to figure out what you may
be saying. You can’t count on it as a reliable and
explicit translation method.
• Be conscious of your body language and
aware of critical communication cues. You
should find an area that’s well-lit and where
there’s not very much noise before you begin
speaking. You might make sure you have a deaf
or hard-of-hearing person’s attention before you
begin speaking by offering a light tap on the
shoulder or a wave of a hand. Make sure only
one person speaks at a time. Don’t chew gum
or cover your mouth when speaking. When you
can, use visual aids – such as pointing at a cita-
tion or other document – to make your point
very clear. Speak slowly.
An Unexpected Encounter: Tips for Law Enforcement DealingWith Deaf Peoplecontinued from page 16
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