accesSOS

Traditional emergency systems are outdated and do not address the needs of those who have communication disabilities. 37 million Americans are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and 28 million more have limited English proficiency. These 65 million people and many more cannot easily communicate by phone voice – including those with autism, speech disabilities, cerebral palsy and other conditions – face life threatening barriers to accessing emergency services by 911. Almost 50% of deaf individuals have reported difficulty accessing emergency services, according to the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). accesSOS fills the gap and offers immediate access to emergency services, providing a solution that is inclusive and accessible to all.

accesSOS’s text-to-911 app gives access to emergency services to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, have speech disabilities, or speak limited English. The app brings this vision to life by offering a text-based alternative to calling 911, which is often inaccessible to these groups of people. The app works by asking the caller a quick series of questions about the emergency they are having. This helps 911 respond to the call and can redirect calls that are better served by other support services, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. accesSOS is providing a life-saving tech solution that enables direct access to emergency help for the deaf community, while using its innovation as a platform to build awareness and advocate for national adoption of text-to-911.