Thank you for your interest in what we are doing to make our programs and services more accessible. Any comments listed below were provided during the public comment period prior to the publication of the initial final Five-Year Accessibility Plan. Each year we will be posting a Progress Report, so check back.
5 Responses
I recommend focusing on these key areas when reviewing and commenting on the FDNY’s proposed plan:
Access to Information:
Are emergency safety instructions available in ASL, visual formats, and written materials?
Does the plan include live interpreters, Deaf interpreters, and captioning during emergencies?
Evacuation Procedures:
Are there clear, visual fire alarms and communication systems in place?
Does the plan address training first responders to communicate effectively with Deaf individuals during emergencies?
Community Involvement:
Was the Deaf community involved in creating the plan?
Are there ongoing opportunities for feedback and improvement?
Staff Training and Resources:
Are first responders receiving regular training on Deaf culture and communication techniques?
Does the plan allocate resources for ensuring equal access during drills or real emergencies?
Feedback FDNY 1.22.2025
Hello,
What has happened to over 20 years of hard work by Deaf leaders with the FDNY to ensure resources for the Deaf community, such as interpreters, captioning, and evacuation procedures to pass it on or revamped after?
Let me clarify: the Deaf community appreciates the FDNY for visiting Deaf schools and partnering with the NYPD Community Affairs to educate the community about updates over the last few decades with or before my acknowledgement. Deaf non-profit organizations have received Deaf alarm clock/fire alarm devices, pamphlets, and safety tip stickers from the FDNY at community fairs multiple times. However, these efforts have been lacking for too long due to COVID-19, changes in leadership, team shifts, and lost contacts since 2019.
In our recent meetings with the FDNY, we discussed the importance of sharing the names of landlords who will be responsible for Deaf tenants moving into buildings near fire department posts. It is essential to emphasize that it remains the Deaf tenant’s choice to opt-out if they wish to protect their privacy. We also agreed to hire Deaf individuals from New York City to deliver FDNY’s Public Service Announcements (PSAs) in partnership with LINKNYC. This initiative will involve collaboration with various NYC services, including the NYPD, Sanitation, Weather, and others, to improve the visibility of public service announcements in sign language (ASL/Universal/V.V – Visual Vernacular).
Our last discussion about the text-to-911 service indicated that it will be upgraded to include video/text capabilities by 2026. Is that accurate?
Did you know that we have four well-trained Deaf FDNY chiefs eager to work with the Deaf community? They are willing to provide training for first responders four times a year to keep them updated. All of the organization’s Deaf leaders and their members are also ready to teach basic sign language as tutors/ASL consultants before live ASL interpreters are involved in any emergencies.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen these FDNY accessibility teams engaging with the Deaf community since 2019. Before that, we had a strong connection during the Hurricane Sandy season.
Will we see a return of the collaboration between the Deaf community and the FDNY?
Despite Local Law 12 of 2023 requiring City agencies to develop and implement five-year accessibility plans, you are demonstrating that you are inaccessible institutions by failing to establish hybrid meetings with the necessary accessibility accommodations needed to collaborate effectively with communities on proposed agency plans. This approach is not a feasible platform for working collectively with communities regarding your proposal plan. Therefore, you need to reevaluate your strategy to host formal hybrid meetings through Zoom that address your proposal plan before implementing policies related to accessibility.
Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (“DIA”) submits these comments, in the annexed letter, in response to the Fire Department of the City of New York’s (“Fire Department”) request for comments concerning its Proposed Five-Year Accessibility Plan (“Accessibility Plan” or “Plan”), posted online on or about December 31, 2024.
2-13-2025 Submitted DIA Comments to NYC Fire Department Proposed 5 Year Accessibility Plan
On behalf of the New York City HIV Planning Group (HPG)/HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council of New York (Planning Council) Joint Policy Committee and our community partners, we submit the attached comments in response to the Fire Department of the City New York (FDNY)’s invitation to provide feedback on its Proposed 5-Year Accessibility Plan (2025-2028).
2025-2-14 – Comment on FDNY 5-Year Accessibility Plan (HPG Planning Council Joint Policy Committee)