Overlooked and Undercounted: Communication and Police Brutality Against People with Disabilities

Abstract

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) entitles people with disabilities to safe and accessible police service. Despite the ADA’s intended provisions and protections, people with disabilities are often victims of police brutality and face police violence at a disproportionate rate. From the use of American Sign Language (ASL) being perceived as aggressiveness and non-compliance to cerebral palsy being mistaken for drunkenness, the communication tactics of people with disabilities are often misinterpreted as violent, and in turn, police use excessive force. This chapter explores key tenets of the ADA and highlights the role communication plays in exacerbating police violence against people with disabilities. Suggestions and solutions are offered to help police departments gain better understandings and promote disability justice.