Police departments around the world could learn from the New York City Police Department when it comes to inclusivity. The NYPD is putting American Sign Language (ASL) signers on the streets. Angel Familia is one NYPD officer using sign language.
Police Officer and CODA Whose First Language is ASL
NYPD officer and CODA Angel Familia is a recent graduate who is now working at the 19th Precinct. Both his parents are deaf. He learned ASL as his first language. Officer Familia will go down in the city’s history as the first New York City police officer whose first language is ASL. Spoken English is his second language, though he is a perfectly fluent speaker.
Interview with signing Police Officer and CODA, Angel Familia
HLM: What was your childhood like growing up as a child of Deaf parents?
Officer Familia: During my childhood, I had already felt the need to take on responsibility and mature quickly. Imagine performing as an ASL interpreter at the age of 10. My parents would take me to every appointment, errand, anything you can think of, I was present. When a hearing person would question my parents, they would turn to me and say, “What did they say?” This was a frequent occurrence in which I began to normalize the situation.
HLM: What was home life like for you? Would you say you had a good, balanced childhood?
To read the rest of this interview go to Hearing Like Me