House Joint Resolution 2 (1990) (Appendix A) was offered as the direct result of the work of the Commission on the Coordination of the Delivery of Services to Facilitate the Self-Sufficiency and Support of Persons with Physical and Sensory Disabilities (the Beyer Commission). The ensuing study, which focused on barriers faced by persons with sensory disabilities in emergency and law enforcement situations, was led by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) with significant support from a task force comprised of state agencies, service providers and consumer organizations named in the authorizing resolution.

The Task Force identified a general lack of communication and limited access to technological devices as an overriding theme. Specific issues are:

• The need for up-to-date technological devices (i.e., pocket talkers, visual alarms, computers) at 911 Centers, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and residences.

• Training for service providers at all levels is needed in various aspects of communication and technology.

• Consumers need to be aware of their responsibilities in emergency and law enforcement situations.

• Public awareness of the availability of existing services is needed.

• Existing laws and policies may conflict and/or impose constraints on volunteers, emergency personnel, confidentiality of consumers, etc.; changes to address the varying aspects may be necessary.

• Financial resources needed to Improve technology and communications may be limited.

In considering ways to alleviate the barriers created by these issues, the Task Force arrived at a series of recommendations which build upon existing resources of the agencies and organizations involved. Many of the costs associated with the following recommendations are being absorbed by the affected agencies:

• Public safety answering points such as 911 centers should continue to upgrade services. Strategies for implementing this include a formal survey of all PSAPs, development of a best practices handbook, and standard means to identify sensory impaired callers.

• Consumer and provider access to technology should be increased through research, development and distribution. This could be accomplished through expansion of the existing Technology Assistance Program at VDDHH, incentive grants for new technology and monitoring of developing technology.

• Pre-service and in-service training for emergency and law enforcement personnel should be expanded through a review of curricula, the development of training modules and other means.

• Consumer education related to rights and responsibilities in emergency and law enforcement situations should become an organizational priority for agencies and organizations. This could be accomplished through direct contact with organizations, a mass media plan, and town hall meetings focused on the issues.

• Qualified sign language interpreter services should be available 24 hours a day through the VDDHH interpreter services program. Emergency response and law enforcement agencies should maintain policies regarding the accessing of such services.

• Formal policies on the maintenance and utilization of confidential information related to the sensory disability status of individuals in a community need to be developed. This recommendation would require more in-depth legal analysis through the Office of the Attorney General.

• Agencies with specific mandates related to persons with sensory disabilities should develop action plans to assist state and local emergency and law enforcement agencies to improve services to this population. Plans should include the provision of technical assistance, grant identification and the establishment of educational goals.

Finally, the Task Force, recognizing the serious nature of the issues and the legal ramifications of several of the recommendations, is requesting a continuation of the study for an additional year to allow for thorough follow-up. Specific activities anticipated for the second year of the study include: conducting the survey of PSAPs, conducting an in-depth review of the Code (with assistance from the Office of the Attorney General) as relates to identification of consumers as sensory impaired, and contacting consumer advocacy groups and professional organizations requesting .organizational priorities related to the identified issues.