Interpreter Refused: A Deaf Driver, RPD Policy, and the Fight for Communication Rights

n February 2024, Lan the complainant, a Deaf driver, was involved in a traffic accident in Rochester, NY. She contacted 911 using a relay service—a clear indicator of her need for communication accommodations. But when officers from the Rochester Police Department arrived, no interpreter was provided.

Rochester is home to one of the largest most vibrant Deaf communities in the United States. The failure to provide an interpreter in this case is not just a mistake—it’s a systemic failure enabled by a policy that must change.

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