is there a phone number for Deaf people to get in contact if there a emergency

jackell · 13-11-2009 4:32pm #1

Is there a phone number for Deaf people to get in contact if there a emergency.(E.G) Guards,Ambulance services.

Thank you

donvito99 · 13-11-2009 4:47pm

I believe this was discussed on Joe Duffy

some time ago, I think there is one operational up North, not sure about here though.

ectoraige · 13-11-2009 4:52pm

Not formally, but VoiceTexts is a private company which provides a system which uses text-to-voice systems to speak to a 999 operator.

Last May, Minister Ryan awarded the contract to run the emergency call centres to BT. Part of the provisions of this is to improve access for Deaf people, I expect the consultation process is still ongoing.

jackell · 13-11-2009 5:10pm

thanks to both of you's.I look into voicetexts.Pity they dont have a service in operation,Not always a hearing person around
Thanks

maglite · 13-11-2009 5:25pm

What abou those press buttons that go arround the neck. As you can tell I know very little about them.

Odysseus · 13-11-2009 9:43pm

maglite wrote: »

What abou those press buttons that go arround the neck. As you can tell I know very little about them.

If your talking about the one I'm familar with I would imagine its limited in such a situation. As well as the pedant there is a control box linked to the phoneline where the operater speaks to the person, so in this case the subject would not hear. A response could be sent but would it be the one required if you get my point.

My understanding is if my mother pressed hers and was unable to reach the contact point to speak, you guys would be called to check it out [I could be wrong though]. However, she may need a different service.

It's a great service, there is a panic button on the control box as well. We have knocked it over a few times and within seconds there is someone on the line calling out her name and asking if she is ok.

meathstevie · 14-11-2009 6:26pm

Text phone 18000 for the PSNI.

sunnyjim · 15-11-2009 1:43pm

Didn't minicom operate a service like this?

Kwekubo · 22-11-2009 12:44am

There was a piece about this topic on Hands On (the deaf programme on RTÉ) earlier this year that pretty much comprehensively demonstrated how utterly useless the current minicom system is. Info is here, and the show is online at the RTÉ website.

is there a phone number for Deaf people to get in contact if there a emergency

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