Driving While Deaf - From the ACLU

By BitcoDavid

This was taken from the ACLU Web site.

Being stopped by the police can be difficult for everyone. For those of us who are deaf, the experience can be far worse.

For Pearl Pearson, a 64-year-old deaf man, a routine traffic stop led to a brutal assault by police. When an officer shouted instructions, he attempted to show the patrolman that he was deaf. That’s when the officer pulled him from his car and according to Pearson, beat him for not following verbal orders.

The Department of Justice can help put an end to these tragedies. Police departments need up-to-date guidance and training from the DOJ on how law enforcement must interact with deaf and hard of hearing individuals, as obligated under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We know the DOJ is listening. Mobilized by violence against transgender individuals, activists recently pushed the DOJ to issue similar guidance on how law enforcement must interact with the trans community.

The police are here to serve and protect us all – including the deaf and hard of hearing. Let’s make sure they get the guidance and training they need to fulfill their duty. Sign the petition to the DOJ now.

BitcoDavid is a blogger and a blog site consultant. In former lives, he was an audio engineer, a videographer, a teacher – even a cab driver. He is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and a Pro/Am boxer. He has spent years working with diet and exercise to combat obesity and obesity related illness.

Comments (3)

Colleen Pallesen

July 26, 2014

Ridiculous! Need to take all those idiots and put them in a room where only sign language is used and see how they feel.
- bitcodavid
  
  July 27, 2014
  
  Yes. Or maybe we can train them. If the IRS ever said, “Hey BitcoDavid, how do you want your taxes spent?” I’d say, “Well, you can start by training cops.”
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Driving While Deaf – From the ACLU