Police Interactions With the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Abuse, Audism, and Accessibility

Abstract

Police brutality is a salient issue in recent years, especially in the United States. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as disabled people, experience higher rates of police violence than white and nondisabled individuals, and it is important to recognize and scrutinize this pattern of injustice. This project investigated police interactions with members of the D/deaf and Hard of Hearing (Deaf/HH) community, and analyzed the intersection of race and disability in the context of policing. Four Deaf/HH individuals were surveyed, and twenty anecdotal accounts from social media were analyzed. Research findings indicate that the Deaf/HH community faces unique challenges when interacting with police. These include difficulties communicating hearing status, misinterpretation of Deaf/HH communication methods, the formulation of strategies for safely navigating police encounters, the intersection of race and disability, and accessibility concerns. The consequences of these issues can be dire, often deadly, and thus potential solutions are discussed to help mitigate future harm.