by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
Question: I am hard of hearing. If I am stopped by the police at night, what is the best way for me to let the police know that I can’t hear their orders. I don’t want to be manhandled or shot for deliberately disobeying orders I cannot hear.—S. D.
Answer: Good question. Let me answer by playing this same scenario twice, but with two very different outcomes. First, picture this one.
Late one stormy night you are driving home alone. Suddenly red and blue flashing lights punctuate the darkness behind you. You don’t know whether you are being pulled over for speeding, for having a broken tail light, or because you are driving a car that looks suspiciously like the get-a-way vehicle seen fleeing from the scene of a nearby convenience store robbery.
You immediately pull over to the side of the road and stop. You can’t see a thing as you are blinded by the headlights behind you. You don’t hear the police officers ordering you to get out of your car and walk backwards towards them. Because you do not follow their directions, the police officers treat you as a threat to them, and in your case, storm your car, drag you from your vehicle, throw you to the ground and handcuff you.
This never should have happened—but did—because the police officers thought you were deliberately disobeying them, and therefore must be hiding something. It never crosses their minds that you neither heard nor understood them because you have a hearing loss.
Does this happen in real life. You bet. For example, Terrence Cantrell, who is deaf, said police once stopped him because his car was the same model as the vehicle of a theft suspect. Officers pointed their guns at him as he tried to tell them he was deaf. “Without the ability to communicate, I was frozen,” he related.
Here is another man’s experience. He relates: “I got pulled over and my deaf ears thought the officer on the loud speaker told me to get out of the car. So I got out with my hands in the air like a good criminal. The cop quickly pulled his gun out and aimed it right in my face! He then told me ‘I told you to stay in the car’. He drew his pistol out so fast he could have accidentally bumped the trigger and killed me. My 3-year old son was in the car with me and saw the whole thing.”
Here’s yet another real-life example. It this case police were also looking for a vehicle that matched this man’s vehicle. In this case, police were looking for an armed suspect. Here’s how the Modesto Bee paper article began: “One rainy night last spring, a swarm of Modesto police cars descended on a truck that was heading north. The pickup stopped and the officers ordered the driver to get out with his hands up.
Modesto resident Harry “Dan” Tessien sat in his truck, waiting.
Officer Daniel Starr repeated his order several times.
Tessien sat in his truck, waiting.
Starr gave his order in Spanish.
Tessien sat in his truck, waiting.
Officer Yair Oaxaca fired a beanbag shotgun at the pickup’s back window, sending a spray of shattered glass throughout the cab.
Tessien leapt out of his seat, and Oaxaca fired a beanbag into his abdomen. Officer Rodney Garcia delivered two more rounds because Tessien still had not raised his hands.
Oaxaca and Garcia delivered six more rounds, according to their reports, hitting the man in the torso and legs as he ran for cover and ducked under the front bumper of his truck.”1
Now picture the first scenario above, but this time using a visor card to get the police officer’s attention. It’s another dark, stormy night when you are pulled over. This time, you know exactly what to do. After you have stopped, you immediately reach up and pull your sun visor down, unhook the end and swing it to face your side window. You open your driver’s-side window all the way, turn on the dome light, then put both of your hands in plain sight on the steering wheel and wait.
You don’t move, even though you are apprehensive, because you faintly hear, but can’t understand, any of the instructions blaring from the police loud-hailer. Finally a police officer approaches your door. He shines his flashlight in your window. Instead of dragging you out of your car, he reads the sign attached to your visor. Immediately his demeanor changes. Why? Because he now knows the reason you did not obey his orders. Your visor card, in big, bold letters declares, “Driver is Hard of Hearing.”
You can’t blame the police for being careful. Theirs is a dangerous job, especially at night. Thus, it is vitally important to establish at the outset that your communications needs are totally different from those of people with normal hearing.
This is where your visor card silently, but effectively, works on your behalf. The front of the card immediately alerts police officers to the fact that there is a communication problem; tells them what the communication problem is; and gives them instructions on how to effectively overcome this problem.
Obtaining Visor Cards of Your Own
Now that you’ve seen just how well visor cards can work for hard of hearing people, you’re probably thinking, “I want one too!” Your next question likely will be, “Where can I get visor cards for my vehicle?”
Although visor cards are available from various agencies in a few states, these cards have one major fault. They lump deaf and hard of hearing people together, as though both groups have similar communication needs. This is just not true.
Now, however, the Center for Hearing Loss Help has designed two different visor cards. One specifically spells out the communication needs of hard of hearing people. The other one specifically spells out the communication needs of deaf people. Download the card that best meets your communications needs.
1. Hard of Hearing Visor Card
Download a free copy of the Hard of Hearing Visor Card here, or if you prefer, you can purchase a Hard of Hearing Visor Card Pak already made up. The pak includes 1 Hard of Hearing laminated visor card; 1 laminated wallet card; and a typeset copy of this article on how to use your visor card properly. Click here to order your Hard of Hearing visor card pak.
2. Deaf Visor Card
Obtain a free copy of the Deaf Visor Card here, or if you prefer, you can purchase a Deaf Visor Card Pak already made up. The pak includes 1 laminated Deaf visor card; 1 laminated wallet card; and a typeset copy of this article on how to use your visor card properly. Click here to order your Deaf visor card pak.
Each 2-page visor card file is in PDF format. Print out pages 1 and 2 on regular paper and glue them back to back. (A glue stick works great for this purpose.) Even better, print pages 1 & 2 back-to-back on a sheet of heavier paper (80# card stock works great). Then you don’t have to bother gluing the pages together.
Cut along the line on page 1 to trim your Visor Card to the correct size.
As a bonus, the bottom part of pages 1 & 2 contain a similar card for you to carry in your wallet. Follow the same procedures you used for the Visor Card.
Then, to make your cards more durable, and to protect them from rain, laminate them on both sides. Office supply stores such as Office Depot, Staples or OfficeMax and some quick print shops such as Kinkos will laminate your cards for you while you wait.
Incidentally, you can have both a Visor Card and a Wallet Card laminated at the same time for one price as they will both fit onto an 8½ x 11 inch sheet of laminate. (Staples laminated both my Visor Card and Wallet Card for just $1.00.)
When you get home, cut out your cards.
While you are at it, you can download a full-color 4-page brochure of this article here to read and remind yourself how to properly use your visor cards (design courtesy of the Palm Beach County, FL Sheriff’s Office).
Correctly Placing Your Visor Cards
Your Visor Cards is useless unless they are instantly available whenever you need them. You don’t want to have to rummage around in the glove box or under the seat when you are pulled over. (Police officers may think you are reaching for a gun and act accordingly.)
The Visor Card is called a visor card for good reason. You attach it to your sun visor. That way, it is normally out of sight, yet instantly available when needed.
Here’s how to mount it. Fold down your sun visor. Place the Visor Card on your sun visor—right side up facing you when your visor is down. Hold it in place with two elastic bands around both the Visor Card and sun visor.
With the sun visor up, your Visor Card is hidden out of sight so you are not advertising the fact that you are hard of hearing, but it is in place, ready for instant use whenever you need it.
Two Visor Cards are Better than One
So far, I have talked about using just a visor card on the driver’s side. However, you should consider having two visor cards—one for each side. Here’s why.
If you are stopped along a busy highway, especially one with narrow shoulders, sometimes the police officer may go to the passenger-side window because it is safer. Police officers have been hit by vehicles whizzing past, so in such situations, they may choose to play it safe and come to the passenger-side window. As a result, you will want to have Visor Cards for each side of your car.
In addition, if the police suspect that you are driving a get-a-way car, for example, two police officers may approach your vehicle at the same time, one on each side. This is another excellent reason to have two visor cards displayed, so both police officers instantly know you can’t hear.
Using Your Visor Cards
If you are ever stopped by the police, follow these steps in this order.
1. Pull over and stop safely. (If it is dark and you are able to, stop under a street lamp, or pull into a lighted parking area. This will make it easier for you to speechread.)
2. Immediately flip your sun visor down, unhook the end by the rearview mirror, and swing it over so your Visor Card is clearly visible in the driver’s side window. If you have two visor cards and you think a police officer will come to the passenger side, deploy that visor too. Even better, deploy both visor cards every time you are stopped. That way, you have your bases covered, no matter what happens.
3. Open your driver’s side window all the way. (Police officers get very nervous with today’s dark windows!) Also open the passenger’s-side window if you flipped that visor down as well.
4. If it is dark, turn on your dome light.
5. Place both of your hands on the steering wheel well before any police officer approaches your vehicle. Police officers want to see both your hands at all times. The safest place is to put them on the wheel at the standard driving positions of 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. Keep your hands on the wheel until after you establish effective communication with the police officer. Have the officer remove your Visor Card and read the instructions on the back so he knows how to effectively communicate with you.
That’s all there is to it! You may never have to use your visor cards, but if you ever do get pulled over, you are prepared. You can “hang loose” and let your Visor Cards do the work of bridging the initial communications gap with the police.
References:
1 Deaf man shot with beanbags at traffic stop sues Modesto police. April 22, 2007. The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA. http://deafnn.wordpress.com/2007/04/22/deaf-man-shot-with-beanbags-at-traffic-stop-sues-modesto-police-the-modesto-bee/
I need card for I am a Deaf Person
Hi Otis:
Either download and print your own–the link is given in the article, or order a Visor Card Pak. The link to do this is also given in the article.
Cordially,
Neil
I got it but I talked about when I am home that somehow police come my door then how I have visor card to them what I have rights act for I am deaf must have interpreter?
Thank you
Hi Otis:
Did you also download the Wallet Card? It’s prt of the Visor Card package. The Wallet Card is something you can keep with you in your wallet for when you are not in your car.
Cordially,
Neil
Let me checking the Wallet Card
I talked about my home whenever Police come my home then what I have need Visor Card to them that I need an interpreter if they arrested for a felony or misemeanor… but I not talked about stopped car! Thank you
Otis can also print another Visor Card and have it next to his door on a table or taped either to the back of the door or the wall next to the door.
In fact, just to be safe, if he had a back door, he can put one there too!
Dean want ototaxic drug book
Hi Dean:
If you want to order the book, “Ototoxic Drugs Exposed”, go to http://hearinglosshelp.com/shop/ototoxic-drugs-exposed/ and click on the appropriate “Add to Cart” button. It’s that simple.
Cordially,
Neil
I think the Visor cards are great. However, I do have one suggestion: I classify myself as deaf. I DO use Sign Language AND I can speak clearly. Should there not be a 3rd card that includes that as well??
Hi Enjoli:
I could make a third Visor Card, but I don’t see any need to do so. The Deaf Visor Card covers what is really important. If you can speak, you can tell the police officer that fact.
The Visor Card is for the initial contact BEFORE you need to say anything. The big thing is that they know you can’t hear and both Visor Cards do that.
Cordially,
Neil
My father is deaf and we are wondering if there is a magnetic version that he can stick on the back of his vehicle
Hi Alicia:
The short answer is “no”, and there is a good reason for this. It is not wise to advertise to the world that the driver is deaf or hard of hearing. This is just an invitation to criminals to follow him home to see where he lives. Then they can break in at night and know that he won’t hear a thing. That is why they are visor cards–kept on the top side of the visor out of sight until needed.
Cordially,
Neil
Hello,
Perhaps also a good idea to carry/wear card on lanyard out of site until needed – that’s for city-dwellers.
Suggestions appreciated – thank you.
Hello –
Can you comment on iHEAR please.
Thank you.
Hi El:
Did you have some specific concerns about the iHear? If I was going to get one, I’d get the behind the ear model. It has greater flexibility in programming, has more power and has a t-coil.
If you like tweaking and programming your own hearing aids, you’ll probably love the iHear. But if you want someone else to do it, the iHear is not for you.
I don’t not have any personal experience with these “hearing aids”. All I know about them is what I have seen on the manufacturer’s website–and of course–that is biased in its favor.
However, I don’t see any red flags staring out at me either. The price is good for what you get. So if you want to try them out and see how you like them, go for it. You have a 45 day trial period.
Note: you have to buy the programmer for an additional $100. So be sure to add that expense in too.
Cordially,
Neil
Are there any visor cards/wallet cards that are customizable? Like that have a place where one can add specific details or instructions to aid in positive communication outcome?
Hi Kellie:
We don’t produce any customizable visor cards. Other organizations might. There is no real need to customize them as their most important function is to alert the police that you can’t hear them BEFORE they talk to you face to face. So they are only reading the front of the visor card at this point.
If you have different communication needs than are printed on the back of them, you can tell them after they know you can’t hear them.
The visor cards are for the INITIAL “confrontation” or contact so you don’t get short or manhandled for not obeying orders you can’t hear.
Cordially,
Neil
My fiancé identifies as hard of hearing. He can hear some but when he can’t prefers Sign language to be communicated to him. Which would be a better fit, the Deaf Visor Card or Hard of Hearing visor card?
Hi Nici:
Probably the Deaf version as it talks about the need for ASL interpreters. But if he communicates via voice and can hear some or speechread, then he might want the Hard of Hearing card.
There is nothing to say he can’t get one of each, and use whichever one he wants to in a given situation.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi, I am completely deaf in my left ear and have less than 10 decibels in my right ear. I identify as deaf but do not know or use ASL. I had partial hearing as a child but have lost it over time. I was taught to lip read as a child because of blind family members and I also had speech therapy for many years. None of these cards fit my situation. Hard of hearing denotes that a person has at least partial hearing. There are many lip readers that are completely deaf. Police get upset when they feel they are being lied to or deceived and would probably get upset if I told them I am completely deaf but the card I present to them says hard of hearing. There should be a third card that says deaf but lip reads and does not use ASL.
Hi Susan:
You have a valid point, and can make up your own visor card with the information on it you want. But, if you look at the back of the Hard of Hearing visor card, you’ll see that it talks about the person may use speechreading. Nothing says you can’t display both the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing visor cards.
Remember, the whole point of the cards–whichever one you choose to use–is just to get the police to realize there is a communication problem so they don’t shoot you for disobeying an order you can’t hear. Once they know there is a communication problem, then you are free to explain how they can best communicate with you.
Thus, either card will work for the initial encounter. Then you clarify things later after the situation has diffused.
Cordially,
Neil
Is this something most officers are trained to look for? I guess I’m asking if this has become standard in the same way first responders are trained to look for medical information bracelets? If not, do you have any advice for opening up dialogue with the local police department to establish familiarity with visor cards?
Hi G:
I doubt many/most police officers are trained in the use of Visor cards. I think it is only in those areas where someone either inside the police department or outside has brought it to their attention. Some police departments actually print up these visor cards (with my permission) and give them out–so those officers all know about them.
I’d just go to the local station and start talking about it. Ask who you should talk to–maybe their training officer or one of the higher ups in the department. If you hit a responsive chord with someone, get that person to push for it within the department. Show them how hard of hearing and deaf people use it so they can quickly look for it as they approach a car–especially at night.
I wish you well in your endeavors to educate your police department. And let them know that if they want to contact me, I’ll give them permission to reproduce them themselves if they want to. They can also brand it with their own department name.
Cordially,
Neil
Is there an endorsement you have to have on your drivers license also? (Tx) I’ve heard 2 different responses. One person at the dps office said yes to indicate that i wear hearing aids, but she wasn’t able to clarify what would happen if I was pulled over and not wearing them. I’m half deaf and have a car without ac so I usually don’t drive with them on unless I’m expecting a phone call because of the amplified wind noise. Another person said no we don’t have to disclose any medically unless it severely limits our ability to drive… Which hearing doesn’t. Also is there done kind of indicator to signal when a fire truck or ambulance is approaching? This is my 3rd year since my hearing loss and I haven’t found a solution yet. Thanks!
Hi Kat:
Each state has their own rules. Some don’t care if you have a hearing loss or not. Others put a restriction on your driver’s license that you need to drive with two outside rear-view mirrors (but since all vehicles have outside rear-view mirrors) that really isn’t much of a restriction. I’ve never run across a restriction that says you have to wear your hearing aids. If that was so, then deaf people wouldn’t ever be allowed to drive. For most of my life, I never drove with my hearing aids on–and still don’t if I’m alone in the car. I use my eyes, not my ears when driving. I typically notice emergency vehicles approaching from behind long before hearing people do.
As for warning devices to warn you of approaching emergency vehicles, those were tried a couple of decades ago and found that they weren’t reliable enough so there were legal issues. Thus, they were all pulled from the market.
You may be interested in reading two of my articles on driving with a hearing loss at http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/driving-with-a-hearing-loss/ and http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/driving-safely-with-hearing-loss/ .
Cordially,
Neil
I am very grateful for this download i have 24yr old profoundly deaf daughter i will give this to her.thank you.
Joe
Thanks Neil great information about Hard of Hearing car visor card. Do you have card for Deaf or Hard of Hearing person going into hospital surgery operation? When I had knee replacement the pre-op nurse, the surgeon attendants and post-op recovery nurse had no idea I could not hear or understand them and even though all turned out ok, I literally was scared that something could go wrong. Your input please.
Hi Joe:
What you want is a Hospital Kit. Read my article on the subject and order the one you want. You’ll find this article at http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/hospital-communication-kits-boon-for-hard-of-hearing-patients/
Cordially,
Neil
I have a sign on my door for emergency personal and first responders. It reads close to the cards but doesn’t have anything like officer in it. I laminated them and have them on my door and patio. I also have to add SERVICE DOG INSIDE DO NOT SEPERATE FROM OWNER to my sign, as I have a dog trained to be my ears. The few times we had a fireman and a police officer here, they both thanked me for doing this because it helps them help us.
I’m profound both ears I’m born plus full deaf from birth that ways how will I use visor if they fight with me by calling police without driving car??? And then let me know for sure thanks from me
Hi Liandre:
The Visor Card is for when you are in a car. If you are not in a car, then you can use the wallet card. It comes with the Visor Card pak.
The wallet card says essentially the same things as the Visor Card but is small enough to fit in your wallet.
Cordially,
Neil
Can you make these in Spanish? I have some for being in an accident; however, not for letting the police know I am deaf/hard of hearing.
Thanks for doing these things, Neil!
Hi Erik:
You are the first person to ask me this in all the years I’ve had these visor cards available so I don’t think there is much demand for them. Besides I don’t know Spanish so I’d need to find someone to translate them for me. I think I’ll leave that up to someone else to do.
Cordially,
Neil