Category: Emergency Prepardness

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Delaware launches free fire and carbon monoxide alert device program for Deaf community

Fire Safety (words shown with flaming fire around it - from MGN)

DELAWARE – The First State is launching its life-saving initiative to get accessible fire and carbon monoxide alarm devices to Delaware’s deaf and hard-of-hearing households.

Officials from the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office say the program will provide the free equipment to eligible Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened, and DeafBlind Delawareans who may not perceive standard auditory alarms.

They say the program will ensure households get the appropriate visual and/or tactile alerting devices needed to keep people safe.

Read on at https://www.wboc.com/news/delaware-launches-free-fire-and-carbon-monoxide-alert-device-program-for-deaf-community/article_f370f691-b0f4-43e0-b3fd-89a5865f6be5.html

 

 

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FCC Comments Deadline due by Aug. 10, 2026 for ASL in the new e911 systems

FCC needs to hear from you! Four simple steps for you to share your experiences and why we need direct communication without using an interpreter for 9-1-1 calls. Deadline is August 10th to leave comments.

Step 1:
Check out our link in our bio.

Step 2: After you enter the link to get on the page: the first line of the form will be the “Proceeding Box”.
Type in “21-479” and press enter then click on: “Facilitating Implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 Services (NG911).”

Step 3. Enter all your information and add comments about your experiences in the “Brief Comments” box.

Step 4. Click “Continue to review screen”. If it all looks good to you, submit!

Your comments will help the FCC understand why Deaf people need direct 9-1-1 access, just like everyone else.

#csdaccess #csd #911 #emergency #fcc

DAD Note: This is a continuation of last year’s push for ASL in the new e911 systems from CSD.  See https://www.delawaredeaf.org/2025/04/18/the-urgent-need-for-ng911-a-lifesaving-upgrade-for-accessibility-and-public-safety/

 

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Wireless Emergency Alert Templates: American Sign Language (ASL)

FCC - Federal Communications Commission logo. The left side shows FC with another smaller C inside the bigger C.

The Federal Communications Commission requires wireless providers participating in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to support the below video alert message templates for American Sign Language. These templates may be pre-installed on WEA-capable mobile devices or downloaded to the device when triggered by the user’s selection of the option to receive WEAs in ASL. Where an alerting authority chooses to send a multilingual Alert Message, the WEA-capable mobile device must be able to extract and display the video template if the subscriber has opted into receiving ASL alerts. When a multilingual alert is sent and the subscriber has opted into receiving ASL alerts, the ASL video template is required to appear first and must be followed by the fillable English version of the alert.

Wireless providers participating in WEA are required to comply with these requirements by June 12, 2028.

Read on at https://www.fcc.gov/WirelessEmergencyAlert-Templates-ASL

DAD Note: 2028 is the due date and it is not known when each phone provider will comply with the order as it can be tomorrow!  We do not have to do anything at this time until the multi-language feature is enabled.  Delaware uses Smart 911 which is connected to WEA also and is great for letting 911 dispatchers know of any special notes during emergencies.  For now, keep an eye on this!