On September 27, 2019, Officer Jacob Griffith responded to a domestic abuse report involving a deaf woman, Ms. Wortham. Griffith noted in his report that communication was difficult due to the lack of a qualified interpreter, relying instead on a friend of Ms. Wortham who was not fluent in sign language. This incident was part of a broader lawsuit alleging the Benton Police Department’s failure to provide appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. ([law.justia.com](https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/arkansas/aredce/4%3A2019cv00069/115510/63/?utm_source=openai))
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