Emergency Communications

Recently published in the February 2013 issue of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation published by the journal for the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), this Emergency Preparedness Checklist for People with Disabilities Information and Education Page was created by Wireless RERC researcher, John Morris and Wireless RERC co-director, Mike Jones.  The checklist is meant to aid people with disabilities in putting together an emergency plan and recommend essential items necessary to survive in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. 

April 9, 2013 — The Wireless RERC submitted reply comments to the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: “Facilitating the Deployment of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications” [PS Docket No. 11-153] and “Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment” [PS Docket No. 10-255]. The Wireless RERC expressed their continued support for obligatory rules concerning the deployment of text-to-911.

April 08, 2013— The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released a Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) (FCC 13-45) related to the accessibility of emergency information provided in video programming. The Report and Order requires that emergency information communicated via video programming is accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This includes the requirement of an aural presentation of the emergency information on a secondary audio stream that must be conveyed at least twice in full.

March 2013 - The Wireless RERC submitted recommendations to the National Weather Service (NWS) regarding their Experimental Winter Hazards Simplification Demonstration.  The Demonstration provided an opportunity to compare text from watch, warning and advisory messages for winter weather hazards with proposed alternatives.

March 2013 — The U.S. Department of Justice reached cooperative settlement agreements with the cities of Englewood and Arapahoe, Colorado Sheriff’s Offices under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Complaints were filed with the Justice Department in regard to officers of the Sheriff’s Offices not providing qualified sign language interpreters and additional assistive resources and services to victims, arrestees, and witnesses that were deaf or hard of hearing. Under the settlements, $35,000 will be paid to the plaintiffs by both the city of Englewood and Arapahoe County.