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Suppose that a mute person enters a turbolift by him or herself, such as Riva ("Loud as a Whisper"). Since he cannot speak, would he be able to get to his destination? Could the destination of the traveler be entered into a control panel, for example? I don't necessarily recall such a control panel on the inside of the Enterprise-D turbolifts, though. I'm not sure about the other commands.

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    Not just mutes, I guess people in the future can still get laryngitis. Voice controls aren't all they're cracked up to be.
    – user14111
    Commented Jan 20, 2017 at 7:49

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Yes, there are panels both inside the turbolifts and just outside them at their entry points.

Inside: enter image description here

Outside: enter image description here

So a deaf or mute person can still use the turbolifts. Not sure how a person who is mute and blind would cope. (Maybe get a visor like Geordi and some ear implants?)

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It kind of stands to reason that the ship's internal systems can understand most forms of communication using the Universal Translator.

The computers of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D have translator capabilities built into its system software.

So it shouldn't matter if the turbo-lift occupant speaks English or waves flippers, the desired destination should be understood....

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    Waves flippers!!
    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Commented Jan 20, 2017 at 12:53
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    @LightnessRacesinOrbit - Yep. No reason why a humpback whale can't use a turbolift. They're part of the Federation, aren't they?
    – user71418
    Commented Jan 20, 2017 at 12:58
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    Lieutenant Gracie :D
    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Commented Jan 20, 2017 at 13:14
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    And the book on the Enterprise-D mentioned that dolphins were among the crew members.
    – RichS
    Commented Feb 11, 2017 at 0:25

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