Deaf-Community Trolley Tour Set for Friday at $35 Per Seat

Burlington residents who identify as Deaf or who communicate primarily through American Sign Language will have a dedicated option for exploring the city this weekend. An hourlong trolley tour scheduled for Friday, November 6, will feature a certified ASL interpreter to facilitate communication for participants. The event aims to demonstrate that accessibility is feasible and valuable for local tourism and community engagement.

Brittney Lipson, a University of Vermont PhD candidate and ASL instructor, is organizing the event. Lipson lost her hearing at age 3 after an illness and moved to Vermont three and half years ago to pursue her studies. She noted that the Deaf community in the Burlington area is small. While enjoying a recent outing with a hearing friend, Lipson realized she was missing out on typical local experiences due to a lack of standard accessibility options.

Lipson partnered with Burlington Trolley Tours to execute the plan. Operator Hannington Kasagga will narrate the tour, while the ASL interpreter will relay the information to the group. The route will include stops at various locations around town. Lipson stated that the goal is to show business owners that Deaf people live and work in the city, encouraging them to become more accommodating. She suggested that businesses could hire interpreters for events or train staff to learn a few basic signs.

“Deaf people are customers, too,” Lipson wrote in an email. She hopes the tour will serve as an eye-opener for hearing individuals who may be afraid of or unsure how to interact with Deaf people. Lipson’s classes at UVM often consist of hearing students who want to learn basic ASL or become interpreters. She said her work in the classroom inspired the trolley event.

Tickets for the November 6 tour are priced at $35. Lipson said several people have already signed up, and space remains available. For more information, interested parties can email bjalipson@gmail.com or visit burlingtontrolley.com. Lipson is one of four ASL instructors at UVM and hopes the program grows. “I want people to get an understanding of how to work with deaf people,” Lipson said. “That’s really what our goal is.”