The language of care

Liberty Hayes arrived at The University of Texas at Arlington planning to become a nurse. Along the way, she discovered a passion for exercise science and American Sign Language. Today, the recent graduate is combining both to help bridge communication gaps for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients at a North Texas physical therapy clinic.

Hayes’ interest in serving the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community grew after she took an American Sign Language (ASL) class with Professor Lisalee Egbert to fulfill a language credit requirement. Inspired by the experience, Hayes added an ASL and Deaf Studies minor.

“I’m very visual and expressive, and ASL is a visual language. What first caught my eye was how captivating it was to watch Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals communicate,” Hayes said. “When I took ASL 1 with Dr. Egbert, she wanted us to leave with more than just vocabulary. She wanted us to understand the Deaf community. Through Deaf events, coffee chats and social gatherings, I got to meet people in the community. They were very open and welcoming. I also learned about the hardships people face with language deprivation and isolation. That activated my desire to make a difference.”

She is doing just that in her new role, where she recent worked with a 14-year-old Deaf patient who had never had an interpreter during physical therapy sessions.

“Before, she had to rely on writing notes or reading lips,” Hayes said. “Having an interpreter helps ensure communication is clear and that nothing gets lost in translation. She also shared that it was the first time she had seen an African American woman who looked like her helping in that role. That really reinforced my goal to help bridge those gaps.”

A 2025 article published in Health Sciences Review found that language barriers remain a significant challenge in U.S. healthcare, particularly for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing population, which totals approximately 36 million people.

The study found that nearly 30% of Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients received services from interpreters without appropriate ASL credentials. Among those using video conferencing, around 50% reported interpreters lacking specialized certifications, and two-thirds experienced additional communication challenges after transitioning to remote interpreting services.

Hayes’ journey exemplifies the kind of life-changing student experience UTA strives to provide. For Tyler Garner, one of Hayes’ exercise science professors, seeing students translate their education into meaningful work is the ultimate reward.

“Liberty is a great student and a great representative of our department. She’s applying what she learned to serve an underserved community, and that’s a compelling example of what UTA offers,” Dr. Garner said. “She’s a natural communicator, very intelligent and one of those students who stands out. She builds relationships and goes above and beyond. It’s clear she does this because she cares and wants to make a difference.”

Garner hopes Hayes’ story inspires other students. Hayes herself offers a simple message for current and prospective students considering UTA.

“UTA has so many resources. Just reach out and take advantage of them. Closed mouths don’t get fed,” she said. “Put yourself out there and take advantage of everything the program offers.”