Sign Language for First Responders with Louise Sattler

Firefighters, Police Officers and Paramedics come in contact with a number of people who speak different languages but few of them are aware of basic signs used by the deaf and hard of hearing community. Now, some autistic folks use American Sign Language (ASL) to better communicate with their community. First Responders need to know the basics of sign language and we brought in an expert to help!

Louise Sattler is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and developed training materials and programs for educators and first responders on how to interact with the deaf community. She was a guest on A Seat at the Table, an internet TV show hosted by Justin years ago, and was kind enough to drop in and chat. Here’s the video from 2010 talking about new technology and communication:

• What parts of your community may need to be communicated with using ASL?
• What basic hand gestures can be used to guide a person who uses ASL to communicate using a pen and paper or texting on a mobile device?
• What signs can an officer with a weapon drawn use to calm a suspect and instruct them to kneel or drop something?

Make sure to follow SigningFamilies.com for updates on the new online course Louise is planning and, in the meantime, subscribe to the YouTube channel to see this show and the basic signs she helped us with.

EDIT: Louise misspoke in our interview regarding the number of boys being diagnosed with symptoms of autism. She meant to say “1 in 60” and inadvertently stated “60 percent.”

EDIT of the EDIT: Justin apparently thinks that the founder of the Mormon faith Joseph Smith is also the noted early American economist Adam Smith. Then again, we never saw them in a room together.

BOLO

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