On Monday, August 8, James Hanson will become the fourth fully deaf student to graduate from the Amarillo College (AC) Truck Driving Academy since 2014. His achievement marks another milestone in AC’s growing reputation as one of the few, possibly the only, community colleges in the nation to offer a truck-driving program with a dedicated, industry-knowledgeable ASL interpreter.

Hanson, a native of Thermopolis, Wyoming, faced a nearly year-long search for such a program. His caseworker, Carey Gill of Wyoming’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, spent nine months exploring options across Wyoming, Colorado, and other states before discovering AC. The welcome was immediate, and the program’s accessibility set it apart from every other school they had contacted.

Under the leadership of Jerry Terry, AC’s Truck Driving Academy has embraced deaf and hard-of-hearing students, viewing them as equally capable in the trucking industry. The college’s Disability Services played a key role, assigning Autumn McClanahan, an AC graduate with sign language training and a trucking family background, to serve as interpreter. Her understanding of truck terminology allows for seamless communication, especially during hands-on training like vehicle inspections.

AC’s commitment to accessibility began unexpectedly when Andrew Deuschle approached the academy several years ago. At that time, deaf individuals were prohibited from obtaining a CDL, but Terry told Deuschle about a federal waiver process. After a determined three-year effort, Deuschle became the first deaf graduate of AC in 2014, earning his license through the Texas Department of Public Safety. His success “kicked down the door” for others, leading to nationwide interest in AC’s program.

Hanson’s graduation will be celebrated at a noon cookout at the Transportation Career Center on AC’s East Campus. For him, the journey has been challenging but deeply rewarding, and for AC, his achievement underscores the academy’s mission: to make truck driving education fully accessible and inclusive for all capable students, hearing or deaf.