Columbia Police Agrees to Help Hard-of-Hearing People

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The Columbia Police Department has agreed to take steps to help people who are hard of hearing like providing sign language interpreters.

The police department negotiated an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department after a deaf person filed a complaint.

In the agreement, the police department will designate a coordinator to make sure the agency complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The agency will also provide officers with a card within 90 days to help them communicate with hard-of-hearing people.

The agreement also requires the police department to provide a special phone used by the deaf in every station and substation.