Province Launches Text With 9-1-1 for Persons with Hearing, Speech Impairments

http://novascotia.ca/News/Release/?id=20150115006

Nova Scotians who have hearing loss or speech impairments can now use Text with 9-1-1 for emergency services.

Nova Scotia is the first in Canada to offer provincewide Text with 9-1-1.

“Being a deaf mother of two children, I’m delighted to see this service being launched. It will make a huge difference in our lives,” said M.J. Crawford, deaf client specialist with TEAM Work Cooperative and The Workbridge Association, and a member of the Deafness Advocacy Association of Nova Scotia. “It will definitely help me communicate with 911 operators with ease. This certainly allows many other deaf or hard of hearing people around Nova Scotia to better access emergency services.”

“This is an important day for those with hearing loss or speech impairments,” said Mark Furey, Minister responsible for the Emergency Management Office. “Text with 9-1-1 enables the people who need it to reach this lifeline through a cellphone.

“This new service has the potential to save lives. I commend EMO’s 911 staff and the wireless service providers for their hard work and commitment to get this service up and operational provincewide.”

Nova Scotians who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or with speech impairments must register their mobile phone number with their wireless provider, and ensure they have a compatible mobile phone. In an emergency, they call 9-1-1, and the emergency call centre will automatically receive notification to begin the conversation by text message.

“There will no longer be a barrier holding back deaf and hard of hearing Nova Scotians from being self-reliant,” said Jim McDermott, deaf studies and English interpretation teacher with the Nova Scotia Community College. “We will be able to text 911 in an emergency concerning health and well-being or as witness to someone else’s emergency.”

The text service is only available to those with hearing or speech impairments.

“Bell Aliant congratulates Nova Scotia on its leadership to provide enhanced access to the 9-1-1 service,” said Dan McKeen, vice-chair and senior vice-president residential services, Bell Aliant. “We are proud to participate as a partner in the Text with 9-1-1 program.”

For more information, or to register, visit www.textwith911.ca .

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Nova Scotians who have hearing loss or speech impairments can now use Text with 9-1-1 for emergency services.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Furey says text with 9-1-1 allows those who need it to reach this lifeline by cellphone.

Nova Scotia is the first in Canada to offer provincewide Text with 9-1-1 to persons who are deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or with speech impairments.

For more information or to register, visit w-w-w dot text with 911 dot c-a.

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Media Contact: Tracy Barron
902-424-2733
Cell: 902-223-1465
E-mail: [email protected]

T9-1-1 Explained (3:45 min.)


T9-1-1 Explained (ASL, 5:30 min.)


How to Make a T9-1-1 Call (2:09 min.)


How to Make a T9-1-1 Call (ASL, 4:02 min.)