Effective Communications for People with Disabilities: Before, During, and After Emergencies

National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

NENA is the primary organization focused on 911 policy, technology, and operations (NENA, 2012). NENA creates standards, files comments on rulemakings, and conducts outreach and training related to 911. The association has been involved in all aspects of Next Generation 911 and is pushing for state and regional implementation of interim textto-911. Text-to-911 would improve access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and would enable text communication for people for whom voice communication is not an option. NENA’s Accessibility Committee offers assistance in all accessibility-related issues and provides subject matter experts on NENA’s committees and workgroups.