Emergency 9-1-1 communicators serve as a crucial link between the public and first responders during emergencies. But what if the person calling 9-1-1 is deaf or hard of hearing? As the child of two deaf parents, Gabriella Wong learned how difficult it can be for persons with disabilities to find emergency assistance when her deaf father nearly lost his life because he couldn't communicate with 9-1-1.

In today’s episode, Gabriella shares more about that experience, the gap in services that exist for the deaf and hard of hearing community, and how she built the AccesSOS platform to overcome these challenges.

To learn more about AccesSOS visit their website.

To inquire about working together, fill out a partnership form here.

To get in touch with Gabby directly, email [email protected]

Follow AccesSOS on: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

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EPISODE CHAPTERS:

AccesSOS and their mission (01:00)

The need for 911 services in the deaf and hard of hearing community (01:53)

Gabriella’s decision to take action and solve the problem (04:55)

Legacy companies services offered prior to AccesSos (06:22)

Going from problem recognition to we are going to build it (07:50)

Time between idea, writing code, and final product (13:58)

AccesSOS app launch (15:20)

Why New Mexico and specifically Santa Fe as the starting point (19:27)

Balancing learning in one location with wanting to expand to more locations (23:04)

AccesSOS ability to offer proof of concept that can help shape policy and advocacy (25:56)

The impact of the 988 rollout (28:20)

Types of funding that AccesSOS has received (31:30)

What does a partnership with AccesSOS look like and how would someone get in contact (34:42)

Immediate goals for 2023 (38:27)

Advice for those wanting to create a service for at risk communities or those trying to solve problems through technology? (43:07)

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Support the show

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HOST

Jason Friesen is the Founder and Executive Director of Trek Medics International, a 501c3-registered nongovernmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving access to emergency response networks in communities across the globe through innovative mobile phone technologies.

Learn more about Trek Medics International by visiting their website, and for more info on the Beacon Crisis Response Platform visit here.

Follow Trek Medics on: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Theme song: "Happy Feliz" by ¡Big Grande! (used with permission).