Cards help deaf Oregonians communicate with police
A partnership between the Oregon Association for the Deaf, the Public Safety Subcommittee of the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Advisory Committee and the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training has resulted in the creation of visor and wallet cards to serve as a tool to assist with communications between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and law enforcement officers.
The cards are being distributed by the Oregon Association for the Deaf and their local and regional partners; the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Program; local law enforcement agencies; and other organizations that work with deaf and hard of hearing Oregonians.
The partnership between the three organizations, OAD, ODHHS and DPSST, has resulted in an update to the basic police curriculum used to train new law enforcement officers, and also deaf and hard of hearing role players who participate in scenario-based training at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem.
DPSST’s Director Eriks Gabliks said in a statement Wednesday, “We are very proud of the partnership we have with the Oregon Association for the Deaf, the Public Safety Subcommittee of the Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and ODHHS.
“Sadly, we know there have been some tragic interactions around the nation involving law enforcement officers and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The visor and wallet cards were designed to serve as a tool to assist with communications between individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and city, county, state, tribal and university law enforcement officers around Oregon.”
Past President of OAD and current state employee with ODHHS, Chad A. Ludwig, said “It takes a village’s effort to promote public safety, awareness, and communication. The goal for two-sided visor and wallet communication card to minimize the barrier in the field and allow each member involved in any type of legal related incidents to build rapport.
“The communication card is not intended to replace trained, certified and qualified sign language interpreters in the legal system. This move is a positive step that improves safety for individuals who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Hard of Hearing and those with additional disability as well as law enforcement partners across Oregon.”
Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/BUSINESS-SERVICES/ODHHS/Pages/index.aspx
Oregon Association for the Deaf
Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
