Listen Here
By Sullivan Pelot
For someone with hearing loss, even a routine interaction with law enforcement can quickly become confusing and frustrating if communication is unclear.
This idea shaped Thursday’s ASL workshop at the University of Findlay, where officers and participants worked through real-life scenarios designed to improve safety and understanding.
Organized through UF’s ASL Club on March 26, the event brought together students, Deaf and hard-of-hearing community members, and law enforcement officers for a series of interactive training stations. Supported by a $25,000 grant, the program aimed to improve communication between public safety officials and the Deaf community by giving officers practical tools to use in interactions.
The workshop showed how quickly communication barriers can create confusion, frustration, and miscommunication during stressful moments.
Dr. Leah Brant, assistant professor of teaching in American Sign Language, and one of the event’s leaders, said the grant came from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
“The whole concept of it was improving safety with the Deaf community,” Brandt said.
Brant said one goal of the grant focused on teaching campus safety, including how campus security and resident assistants (RAs) should respond if a deaf person is on campus during a fire alarm, tornado drill, or other emergencies. Another goal supported the workshop itself, which brought public safety agencies and the Deaf community into the same room.
“And then this was the next big thing,” Brant said. “We had decided we were going to get these two communities together and have a conversation.”
About six officers attended the event, including representatives from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, city police, corrections, and UF campus security. Interpreters were also present throughout the workshop, making it accessible to all participants.
After opening remarks from Brant, the participants split into breakout groups that rotated through five stations, spending about 10 minutes at each one before returning to their seats for a recap and final questions.
Each station focused on a different real-world scenario, such as interpreting or receiving Miranda rights, what happens during a traffic stop, or basic signs officers should know.
Ashley Kiger, the president of the ASL Club, said the organization played a major role in making the event happen and addressing the communication gap between the Deaf community and law enforcement.
“Hopefully it’s an eye-opener for them,” Kiger said. “I hope they can see both sides — both the Deaf community’s side and the law enforcement side — and better understand how hard communication can be between them.”
Kiger said the shared experiences were one of the event’s most valuable parts.
“I’m really happy that law enforcement showed up, that we had interpreters here to help facilitate communication, and that a lot of experiences were shared,” Kiger said. “I think that’s the main importance — sharing people’s experiences is one of the best ways to learn.”
Aubree Johnson, an attendee and ASL Club member, said one of the most important lessons came during the station about receiving the Miranda rights.
“I didn’t realize how the wording of that can be so impactful,” Johnson said. “To make it as simple as possible was really eye-opening.”
For the officers, the event also reinforced that better communication does not always require complete fluency in ASL. A few basic signs, patience, and a stronger understanding of the communication gap can immediately make an interaction safer.
Ross Wentling, Sergeant of Campus Safety at UF, said that even limited training can help officers improve encounters while waiting for an interpreter if one is needed.
“I think it could be a very positive change,” Wentling said, “that can make the process easier and a lot safer.”
With the support from the grant, the organizers of the event hope this is only the beginning. For the University of Findlay’s ASL Club, the workshop shouldn’t be just a one-time lesson, but a step toward stronger connections between the Deaf community and the people sworn to protect it.
