FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1996                           (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

     CALIFORNIA TO MAKE 9-1-1 EMERGENCY SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE TO
       ALL CITIZENS UNDER AGREEMENT WITH JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

   Agreement is the First to Improve 9-1-1 Access Statewide 
  
     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- People who are deaf, hard of hearing or
who have speech impairments will be able to quickly and reliably
reach 9-1-1 operators throughout California under an agreement
reached today between the Justice Department and the state. 
     The agreement stems from a complaint lodged with the Justice
Department under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by a
California woman who is deaf.  The complaint alleged that the
woman, who was experiencing a heart attack, could not effectively
communicate with her local 9-1-1 center because it lacked a
telecommunication device for the deaf, known as a TDD.      
     "An unanswered 9-1-1 call or delay in response could mean
the difference between life and death," said U.S Attorney General
Janet Reno.  "People with disabilities must have the same access
to emergency services as everyone else."
      After the Justice Department began investigating the
complaint, it learned of several instances where people with
disabilities were not getting adequate emergency services.
       Under the settlement, the California Department of General
Services will:
    instruct the 9-1-1 centers on how to ensure that people
     using TDDs can effectively utilize emergency services;

    reimburse 475 California 9-1-1 centers for their costs to
     purchase TDD equipment; and,

    inform the 9-1-1 centers that the state's existing method
     for handling TDD calls will be discontinued in July 1997,
     and that TDD 9-1-1 access remains the sole responsibility of
     each emergency center.


     "This agreement will save lives," added Reno.
     The ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with
disabilities.  Title II of the ADA, which applies to state and
local governments, requires 9-1-1 centers to ensure direct access
to emergency services for individuals using TDDs.  
     People use TDDs by typing into a device which electronically
transmits their words to a receiving party.  That party must also
have a TDD to read the conversation and respond.  
     According to the complaint, the California woman was
experiencing a heart attack and called 9-1-1 using her TDD.  When
the emergency center received the call, it transferred her to
another location, which unlike the local center, was equipped
with a TDD.  The woman's TDD interpreted the transfer as though
the center had disconnected her call and she was forced to go to
a neighbor for help.  Although she collapsed on the way, she
survived.
      The California Department of General Services had provided
a TDD service upon which local 9-1-1 centers could rely to handle
TDD calls.  Under the service, a local 9-1-1 operator would
receive a TDD call and connect it to the TDD service, thereby
creating a three-way conference call between the caller, the 9-1-1
operator, and the TDD service operator.  The process allegedly
led to a delay in response time or caused the caller to think the
line had been disconnected.
     "Citizens with disabilities have been paying for 9-1-1
services, and are entitled to them," added Reno.  "Without the
proper equipment, 9-1-1 centers might not be able to help
citizens with disabilities."
     In July 1994 the Justice Department reached an agreement
with Los Angeles requiring the city to install TDD-compatible
equipment, train its emergency dispatchers and promote the TDD
program.  The agreement was reached after a 9-1-1 center failed
to respond when a mother who is deaf called because her 2-year-
old son injured his head.
     "We commend the state of California's actions throughout
this process," added Reno.  "California's cooperation serves as a
model for other state and local governments across the country."
     Copies of the settlement may be obtained by calling the
Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line.  The hotline
was established by Attorney General Janet Reno as part of a
nationwide campaign to educate the public about the law.  The
number is 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).  
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