How do I add a designation (symbol) to my REAL ID?
Any Deaf / Hard of Hearing residents of North Carolina may make such a request by providing an affidavit - a document to verify one’s hearing loss such as a formal letter from a local NC DSDHH regional center, a residential school, a vocational rehabilitation counselor, an audiologist, or a medical doctor.
Please click to download the form:
How did this designation (symbol) came about?
Because of unfortunate and unnecessary deaths of two NC Deaf men that occurred within 18 months caused by the shooting of police officers, NC Association of the Deaf took action to improve communication between law enforcement and Deaf / Hard of Hearing citizens.
North Carolina House Bill 84 (HB 84) has become effective on the first of January 2018. At any Deaf / Hard of Hearing individual’s request, one can add a designation (symbol) to his or her driver's license that s/he is “deaf or hard of hearing”. That designation will be added to the registration information of any vehicle in the owner's name which shows up in the computer system when the law enforcement runs a check in the database system.
In addition, the BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) Program Director has partnered with NC DHHS to incorporate training to the BLET curriculum where all current and future students of the BLET Program would take: an education on how to interact with Deaf / Hard of Hearing citizens. Ted Baran, Director of Department of Public Security at Gallaudet University, has developed a series of video showing guidelines on how officers can work with and confront with Deaf / Hard of Hearing suspects and witnesses. Similar instructional videos will be used within the BLET Program.
This House Bill 84 is intended to provide criminal justice officers additional training on how to interact with a motorist who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Also, this helps to prevents future tragedies due to possible communication breakdowns and misunderstanding.
Craig Blevins,
NCAD President
About the Author:
Craig Blevins is a Yadkinville native and is a proud Alumnus of North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s degree in Advocacy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. During his time at UNC-G, he became a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi).
Craig has served and been a member of many community organizations that work with and serve those who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. His leadership roles in North Carolina and on various committees are numerous. Notably, he has served as President of the North Carolina Association of the Deaf for the last seven years. Currently, Craig works for the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
While Craig is a proud father to five children, he and his wife dote on their four grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren are deaf/hard of hearing. In his spare time, Craig enjoys his life at the farm: carpentry, gardening, raising chickens and turkeys.
