Police aim to improve communication with hearing-impaired

In the past, communication with the hearing-impaired has been slow, difficult and dependent on the use of contracted sign language interpreters or passing a notepad back and forth between the individual and department personnel. Those methods could be problematic when interpreters weren’t readily available, and the written method was often frustrating for the parties involved.

Each UbiDuo has a matched pair of keyboards and screens. As one party types a statement, they are conveyed in real-time to the other party, who can then respond in-kind. Hearing-impaired individuals will only be limited by their written language skills.

UbiDuo units will be located at Police headquarters, 321 E. Chestnut Expressway, and at the south station, 2620 W. Battlefield Road. The units also can be used in conjunction with Teletypewriter systems, which will allow hearing-impaired individuals to interact with department personnel from their home phones.