Number: 4.8

 

Replaces:

 

Date Issued: April 01, 1995

 

Revised:  January 25, 2000

 

Date Effective: January 25, 2000

 

Subject: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance

 

POLICY:                     The El Paso – Teller County Enhanced 9-1-1 System shall

                                    provide enhanced 9-1-1 equipment capable of meeting the

                                    requirements of the ADA to ensure equal access to all.

 

PURPOSE:                To assure that all TTY users are provided with:

                                                Direct access to E9-1-1.

                                                An opportunity to benefit from the emergency
                                                services that is equal to the opportunities afforded
                                                others.

 

PROCEDURE:          In order to afford equal access to TTY users, every 9-1-1 call-

                                    taking position within a PSAP must have its own TTY

                                    equipment.  Further, the Board shall assure that all 9-1-1 call-
                                    taking hardware and equipment, both present and future comply

                                    with the ADA rules.

 

                                    Direct access shall be achieved by providing 9-1-1 equipment

                                    that is able to directly receive TTY calls without relying on an

                                    outside relay service or third-party service.

 

                                    Equal access will assure emergency telephone services for

                                    9-1-1 provided TTY users are as effective as those provided for

                                    persons who make voice calls, in terms of:

                                                Response time

                                                Response quality

                                                Hours of operation

                                                All other features such as Automatic Number Identification
                                                (ANI), Automatic Location Information (ALI), and

                                                Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)

 

                                    In keeping with the policies and procedures of the El Paso –

                                    Teller County Enhanced 9-1-1 Authority Board, local agency

                                    policies regarding training and testing of TTY shall prevail.  This

                                    policy is written to assure that ADA compliant equipment is

                                    provided at each answering point with the PSAP.

 

                                    The El Paso – Teller County Enhanced 9-1-1 Authority

                                    Board recommends that all PSAPs have a written policy

                                    that covers:

                                                Protocol that properly trains the call-taker in the

                                                recognition of a TTY call.
                                                Protocol that provides a training program, which

                                                documents all training, records and recommends

                                                regular refresher training in the use of TTY.

                                                Protocol that establishes the regular testing of all
                                                call-takers and the equipment at all call-taking positions,

                                                both with tones received and silent calls.  This testing

                                                program should be announced to the call-takers.