Students from the Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) and Pathway Club had a wonderful opportunity to participate in an Austin Police Department (APD) cadet training focused on Deaf awareness, communication, and American Sign Language (ASL).
The training was hosted by TSD for the newest class of APD cadets. Ms. Lee Godbold led the cadets through a Deaf Sensitivity presentation and a mini ASL workshop, helping the future officers learn more about Deaf culture and ways to communicate respectfully and effectively with Deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.
During the ASL workshop, students from the PAL and Pathway Club joined the cadets in small groups to practice basic signs and communication skills. The students were able to share their experiences, demonstrate ASL, and interact directly with the cadets in a fun and educational setting.
This hands-on experience gave students an opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the Deaf community while helping APD cadets build confidence in communicating with Deaf individuals. It was also a great chance for students to practice leadership, teamwork, and community engagement.
We are proud of our PAL and Pathway Club students for volunteering their time and helping make the training a meaningful experience for the APD cadets. Their participation demonstrates the importance of building connections between our students and the wider community.