New York City’s 911 emergency system

New York City’s 911 emergency system is inaccessible to Deaf and hard of hearing people despite the fact access to 911 is required by law and is critical to people's health and safety, especially in a time of plague. Although Text-to-911 is available in thousands of municipalities throughout the United States, Deaf and hard of hearing New Yorkers are still waiting for the service.

The report from the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest makes clear that the New York City Department of Technology and Telecommunications and other New York City agencies responsible for implementing Text-to-911 services must provide frontline 911 workers the resources they need, while at the same time ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to critical 911 services. New York Lawyers for the Public Interest calls upon New York City to implement Text-to-911 by the June 2020 deadline the City most recently set for this service.