Fairfield Ludlowe Students To Train Police Officers In Sign Language

FAIRFIELD, CT — Later this month, students in Fairfield Ludlowe High School's American Sign Language Club will take on a new project, teaching Fairfield police officers how to communicate with their hands.

The purpose of this student-led initiative is for students to teach officers signs that can be used to communicate with members of the community who are deaf or hard of hearing.

"I’m really glad this initiative is happening," Fairfield Police Sgt. Jenna Wellington told Patch. "The ASL Club reached out to my office a while ago with the idea of creating a resource for first responders to better communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Recognizing the importance of this effort, we offered the club the opportunity to discuss this directly with officers and provide training."

Wellington said that the students "have shown remarkable enthusiasm and dedication in bringing this project to life, demonstrating their leadership and commitment to making our community more inclusive."

This is the first time the department is collaborating with the school's ASL Club, but Wellington said all Fairfield officers undergo periodic training, called "Law Enforcement and Citizens with Special Needs."

"This course, taught by Fairfield Police instructors, covers best practices for responding to and communicating with individuals who have hearing or vision impairments, along with other disabilities," Wellington told Patch. "Additionally, many of our officers are certified Crisis Intervention Team members, which includes further training on engaging with individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or visually impaired."

Wellington will be a part of the ASL Club training session, but she already knows some basic sign language. The department does not have specific data on how many calls officers go on where they encounter a person with a hearing disability.

"Though we don’t have specific metrics on interactions with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, I can share from personal experience that I have encountered a deaf resident who was pleasantly surprised that I could communicate using basic sign language," Wellington said. "For officers who may not know sign language, they are trained to recognize it and use alternative methods such as written communication or mobile devices."

The Fairfield Police Department periodically provides officers with language training beyond English, and Wellington said that the department has officers who are fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Bulgarian, and other languages, so sign language will fit right in.

"The Fairfield Police Department is excited to collaborate with these innovative students and learn from their unique perspectives," Wellington said. "Their dedication to bridging communication gaps and fostering inclusivity is truly commendable. Opportunities like this not only enhance our ability to serve all members of our community but also strengthen the important relationship between law enforcement and the next generation of leaders. We look forward to working with the ASL Club and gaining valuable knowledge that will help us better assist the deaf and hard-of-hearing community."