A new service that gives deaf and hard of hearing residents direct access to the City of Cape Town’s public emergency communications centre (PECC), sends a message to the deaf community that their lives matter.

These were the words of disability and women’s rights activist and CEO of the Artscape Theatre Centre, Marlene le Roux, at the launch of the new functionality, which can be accessed on the City’s mobile app.

“Its about not just hope, but hope in action. That is why this app is so important. If you believe you are for all citizens, you need to include people with disabilities at all times.”

The City of Cape Town and DeafSA launched the feature on Monday, September 30, at the Cape Town Civic Centre banqueting hall.

It is designed for deaf and hard of hearing people to request emergency assistance in life-threatening situations quickly and easily, without the need for a voice call.

The service can be found on the City of Cape Town’s mobile app.

The user of the service can register their details in advance and, in the event of an emergency, send a distress signal with just a few taps.

The system automatically pinpoints the resident’s location, helping emergency responders reach them quickly.

Confirmation of the matter being reported will be sent via SMS, which also allows for any follow up questions the emergency services might have. If need be, the PECC can also call the complainant’s emergency contact.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said the department has been advocating for the development for many years.

“And, while it is critical to pause and savour this moment, this is just the pilot phase.

“Over time, we hope to further expand the offering to include voice, text and video functionality, in line with the ever-changing world and technology at our disposal.”

DeafSA Western Cape chairperson Jean Claude Smit said if people can speak, deaf people have a right to use their language as well.

He said he was recently in a car accident, and while the damage was minor, the officers on the scene did not approach him while he tried to get their attention.

He said he called someone from DeafSA to assist him, and had waited three hours for help.

“Where was the access for me? If that was a hearing person, they could’ve made a phone call and someone would’ve come and assist them and it would be a quick process. It should be the same for the deaf.”

He said he was happy that this service was implemented for the deaf community and hoped to build partnerships around South Africa so that all South Africans of the deaf community could get access to the service.

Modiegi Susan Njeyiyana, junior lecturer at Stellenbosch University, who teaches students Sign Language, said the service will change the lives of the deaf community. “I believe its going to broaden everything in the future and better our lives and needs.”

Faith Cronwright, director of Deaf Community of Cape Town, an organisation based in Heathfield, which assists deaf adults in the community, supported the service as well.

She said the service creates awareness around the deaf community, and it a wonderful initiative. She said the organisation previously had a few incidences where deaf community members could not place a call, or emergency services fail to come to a deaf client’s aid. “I definitely know that this app will assist.”

However, she was concerned that deaf people won’t be able to navigate the City’s app, or read items on the service. “I think we need to workshop it with the deaf community due to the fact that deaf education has been poor.”

She was also concerned about people in communities not having access to smartphones, but said the organisation will assist where they can to share information and help people access the service. “However, it is wonderful to have this access, because we had lots of barriers and now we are able to overcome those barriers. We are slowly getting there,” she said.

DeafSA will lead public education efforts over the coming months, to ensure that as many people register for the service.

Mayoral committee member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, said the new service was a massive step forward in ensuring universal access for the deaf community to a potentially life-saving service.

“I want to encourage deaf and hard of hearing persons to download the app and register their details for easy access in the event of an emergency.”

Ms Le Roux said she hoped people will comment and give feedback on how to better the service, but for now, it was a “Wow” in the world.

“For once, as a deaf or hard of hearing person, you can be mainstream.

“You are first a human being, but people cannot be humans if you are not providing resources for someone to be a fully-fledged citizen.”

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