Jun 10, 2015 2 min read

My job is to help people with disabilities navigate the ever-changing world of assistive technology. One of the exciting changes on the horizon is the advent of text messaging to 911 call centers, which means that those who cannot speak or cannot hear can still reach out for help when needed.

This program was adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in August 2014, and since that time, seven Pennsylvania counties have the system up and running, including Allegheny County. This process is neither simple nor cheap, so other counties are developing plans to come into compliance over the upcoming year.

At present, Washington County has buy-in from all carriers and is installing software and running demos, and anticipates being up and running before the end of summer; in the words of the operator I spoke with, they want to be “one of the next counties, not one of the last.” Fayette County is in contract with other counties, rather than going it alone, but it is waiting on a software update, and Greene County is planning an expenditure of $600,000 to get the necessary equipment, and does not anticipate its installation before next year.

I, for one, am excited by the prospect of equal access to health and safety for all of the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and will be following developments on this issue closely.

John Flaherty

Washington

Flaherty is an assistive technology specialist and independent living specialist for Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living in Washington.