The visor and wallet cards are to be used to improve communication. They are designed to be used at the point of contact, which is a very critical time, for both individuals, the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person as well as the law enforcement officer.

At a traffic stop, Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens have been instructed to pull the visor down, making the Communication Access Needs Card visible. The card will be placed on the back side of the visor. While waiting for the officer to approach, the driver will keep his/her hands on the steering wheel. If the stop is made at night, instructions have been given to turn the interior car light on to make the visor card and hands more visible.

They will attempt to make eye contact with the officer, point to their ear and shake their head “no” to indicate they cannot hear. Then, they will point to the visor card and place their hands back on the wheel.

At this point, the visor card may indicate that this person is Deaf or Hard of Hearing and needs to communicate in a different manner… perhaps by writing notes or lip-reading. An officer should offer a pen and paper to the individual so they do not need to reach for it themselves. It will help eliminate any quick or suspicious moves by the individual.

If the person can lipread, many departments allow an alternate position at the driver window to maintain safety, and face the driver and the vehicle interior. The officer maintains eye contact and speaks clearly, keeping items away from his/her mouth so that the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person can fully see their face.

If an arrest is made, the officer should inform dispatch that the person apprehended is Deaf or Hard of Hearing so Sign Language Interpreters or other forms of communication can be provided. The officer should not interrogate the individual for information until it is confirmed that effective communication has been established.

Remember, safety procedures are to be followed at all times. Just because the person is Deaf or Hard of Hearing does not mean they cannot pose a threat. This program is designed to show a need to communicate differently, not compromise officer safety.

Visor Cards are available at the Michigan Secretary of State Offices.