Jed.Mitchell@f6.n123.z1.fidonet.org (Jed Mitchell) (04/24/91)
Index Number: 15109 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] since we recieved the complaints from several hearing impaired and deaf people which experienced their frustration with their calling to 911 when they do need the help in an emergency situations... so we, memphis chapter for tennessee association of the deaf made the contact with personel for the appointment for visiting to their emergency communication panel room and then their approval was made for april 18 th on the thursday afternoon. we visited in their place and met the man who is expecting of our visiting and showed us around the emergency communication panel room ... i asked him if he could show us where the tdd is and he guided us to one of the few panel desk where it was placed. we saw one tdd there and then we noticed that the telephone line was separated from the tdd and the computer .then one of us asked him if there is any 911 number that may connect to any tdd users who may called for emergency, then he responded "no" and he said," there is different phone numbers for tdd users to use instead of 911 numbers since they set up the 911 system at the year of 1981". we were shocked to learn that all of us we were not aware of the 911 numbers dont exist for tdd users to call.. so we made the long discussion with him on how to improved the system for tdd users in the near future... he admitted that he was not aware of any problems for deaf people who tried to call 911 on tdd but recieved no response on their tdd screen. so we explained to him on the reason that we need to see the tdd to be connect to 911 numbers so we could tell them on what kind of problems and then they will know on what to bring the proper equipments or help that we may need. so he wanted us to bring more updated informations for him to get the 911 system to be set up.. ...... so i would like to hear any more comments from you in the other states to let us know if your city that do have 911 to be able to use tdd to communicate with deaf and hearing impaired and so we are anxious to get any more informations from you on how your city's 911 do have the 911 numbers to be connect to tdd. so you may relate your message to clear crystal ideas sysop at this numbers. so i could respond to your message for more comments or answering to your questions....so thank you for any help that you could provide for our city to improve for deaf society.... so i will check on any of messages from you at anytime before april 27 th,before we will be going out of town for the statewide tenn. assoc. for the deaf board meeting. with your best regards, jed , pres. of m.c.t.a.d. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!123!6!Jed.Mitchell Internet: Jed.Mitchell@f6.n123.z1.fidonet.org
Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker) (05/03/91)
Index Number: 15340 [This is from the Silent Talk Conference] Jed, I'm not going to quote your message regarding TDD's and the 911 Emergency number - but I do have a suggestion. Round up all of the TDD users in your area and have them call the 911 number on a daily basis to give the Police Department some practice. Keep at it for about a month, then give it a rest by waiting another month with no calls (unless there really is an emergency) and test them again. This has been very successful in Lawton, OK, however, I seem to be the only one who keeps them on their toes along with the hospitals but I guarantee you, they will keep the TDD hooked up at all times after this trial deal. I've even trained the city employees, police officers, firefighters, emergency room personnel on how to operate a TDD and it's been rewarding, even though I've wanted to have a screaming session a few times. (grin) -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!385!14.0!Ann.Stalnaker Internet: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org