Canvassing the Current and New Accessibility Issues Arising from 911’s Transition to NG911

Almost every American is taught from a young age that 9-1-1 is the “Universal Emergency Number” for requesting emergency assistance. When a person calls this number, they are automatically connected, through a system of triangulation unbeknownst to them, to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), where they are assisted by a Telecommunicator.

The first call to 911 was placed in February of 1968, about 55 years ago. In the 55 years that have passed since the first call, the nation has grown, technology has advanced, but there is still an immense amount of work to be done to ensure that this life saving service is equitable and accessible to all.