Miss-Delectable
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First Responders Learn Sign Language to Communicate With Deaf Community
Frederick City Police and the Frederick County's Fire and Rescue department are taking up a new language: sign.
It's all part of their partnership with the Maryland School for the Deaf.
Police officers, firefighters and paramedics all learned some sign language basics so they would be able to communicate better in an emergency.
After their crash course, they were placed in scenarios where they role-played with deaf students from the school.
"Before I had to write down what I wanted to say. Today I feel like I learned how to at least get me through the basics of signing. I'm no expert now, but I feel like I know the basics," said Robert James with the Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
The agencies are planning more training sessions like this one. There are also plans to offer a similar sign language course at the Frederick Police Academy in the future.
Frederick City Police and the Frederick County's Fire and Rescue department are taking up a new language: sign.
It's all part of their partnership with the Maryland School for the Deaf.
Police officers, firefighters and paramedics all learned some sign language basics so they would be able to communicate better in an emergency.
After their crash course, they were placed in scenarios where they role-played with deaf students from the school.
"Before I had to write down what I wanted to say. Today I feel like I learned how to at least get me through the basics of signing. I'm no expert now, but I feel like I know the basics," said Robert James with the Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
The agencies are planning more training sessions like this one. There are also plans to offer a similar sign language course at the Frederick Police Academy in the future.