First responders take their first steps in learning how to better communicate with the deaf

On Wednesday, more than 30 first responders packed into a classroom at the Allegheny County Fire Academy to take their first steps in learning how to better communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals they may need to serve in emergency situations.

Nick Catalano, a math teacher at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, led the class with the basics of American Sign Language. First with the alphabet, then numerals 1-10. The class proceeded to learn various other terms that might be useful in emergency situations.

Catalano stressed that learning and using the sign for “deaf” in an emergency situation, “even if you don’t know any other sign — establishing communication — it’s a huge impact.”

The class, one of a two-part class, is put on by the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and hosted at the Allegheny County Fire Academy in Allison Park.

Participants came from over 14 departments and were instructed on signs and techniques for communicating emergency information to users of American Sign Language.