ADA25: #21 of 25 -- Text to 911 (01:51)

NAD Attorney Anna Bitencourt explains how text to 911 is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). View the entire #ADA25 series at www.nad.org/ADA25.

Video begins with an off white vintage background. Three black and white photos appear. First photo shows a group of people marching, one holds a NAD poster. Second photo shows another group of people marching, one holds a poster "We Shall Overcome." Third photo shows President Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act. Text appears "ADA25 -- Americans with Disabilities Act". Video flashes to white then to Anna Bitencourt inside NAD Headquarters. On bottom left corner, "#ADA25" appears as a light watermark. On bottom right corner, the NAD logo appears, also as a light watermark. 

ANNA: Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to provide access. This also includes access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to emergency 911 call centers. The NAD has long pushed for improved access to 911 centers. For example, the NAD played a key role in 911 centers adding TTY lines and accepting relay service. Today, very few of us use TTYs and we all know how frustrating it is to call 911 through the relay. We need fast, reliable, direct, and easy communication with 911. For many of us, the best way is text to 911. The NAD and other consumer groups successfully persuaded the FCC to require all wireless companies to support text to 911. With wireless companies now supporting text to 911, your local 911 center should not have any reason for not adding text to 911 technology.
However, this does not mean that all 911 centers can support this technology. We need your help. The NAD encourages local communities to reach out to your local 911 center or Public Utilities Commission to push hard for equal access to 911 services through text.

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