Miss-Delectable
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edmontonsun.com - Edmonton News - Deaf get 911 service
Advocates for the deaf say it is about time the city offered 911 service to those who can't hear.
Marilyn Kingdon, president of the Edmonton branch of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, said her group has been lobbying for the service for 15 years.
"It was not for a lack of effort on our part," Kingdon said yesterday, after the city announced hearing-impaired Edmontonians can now use teletype machines to access 911.
Prior to the change, people wanting to use a teletype device had to dial a seven-digit number for emergency help.
Kingdon said there was never a guarantee someone would answer.
She said some deaf people would just call 911 - hoping an emergency responder would be dispatched to their address.
"They had no idea if someone was on the other end," Kingdon said. "They just stayed on the line and hoped help would come."
Edmonton Police Service spokesman Jeff Wuite said the change cost cops $41,000.
Kingdon heaped praise on Mayor Stephen Mandel and the current council for acting on her group's request.
Mandel said the new service is vital. "By switching from a seven-digit number to 911, we can save precious seconds in dispatching police, fire or paramedics, getting them on-scene faster, and potentially saving lives."
In October 2005, the city approved a plan where captioning or sign language services are automatically available at all major civic events and celebrations.
Advocates for the deaf say it is about time the city offered 911 service to those who can't hear.
Marilyn Kingdon, president of the Edmonton branch of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, said her group has been lobbying for the service for 15 years.
"It was not for a lack of effort on our part," Kingdon said yesterday, after the city announced hearing-impaired Edmontonians can now use teletype machines to access 911.
Prior to the change, people wanting to use a teletype device had to dial a seven-digit number for emergency help.
Kingdon said there was never a guarantee someone would answer.
She said some deaf people would just call 911 - hoping an emergency responder would be dispatched to their address.
"They had no idea if someone was on the other end," Kingdon said. "They just stayed on the line and hoped help would come."
Edmonton Police Service spokesman Jeff Wuite said the change cost cops $41,000.
Kingdon heaped praise on Mayor Stephen Mandel and the current council for acting on her group's request.
Mandel said the new service is vital. "By switching from a seven-digit number to 911, we can save precious seconds in dispatching police, fire or paramedics, getting them on-scene faster, and potentially saving lives."
In October 2005, the city approved a plan where captioning or sign language services are automatically available at all major civic events and celebrations.