Help is On the Way

Wouldn't it be nice if this sign lit up every time you were having a problem in your life? Whatever you struggled with, whatever you couldn't figure out, this sign would suddenly turn on and you'd relax, knowing that your troubles would soon be over.

Unfortunately, life isn't like that, and the only time you'll see this light up is if you're in a broken elevator at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. It's the only liberal arts university for the deaf in the world, and every building has special features tailored to the population there. In the case of elevators, there is a "call" button for when an elevator breaks down, just as there is for elevators all over the world. But the two-way intercoms used in most elevators don't do any good for the students at Gallaudet, who can't hear when they've been connected with security officers. Instead, the person receiving the emergency call presses a button, and this sign lights up to let the students know their call has been received.

This particular sign is in the Washburn Arts Building, but I have also seen them in College Hall and the Hall Memorial Building. I've never seen one in action - even the fairly old elevators tend to be in good operating condition - but it's nice to know they're available if we get stuck.