CACP researcher Salimah LaForce traveled to Deaf Link headquarters in San Antonio, TX on June 18-20, 2014 to conduct focus groups and observe a novel survey method for capturing data from people who are deaf and rely on American Sign Language (ASL). One focus group explored user testing of an external alerting interface that responds to Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messages on mobile phones. The other discussed how different modes of communication can be leveraged to enhance access to emergency information. Participants was asked how they receive emergency alerts and information and preferences for two-way communications with emergency response personnel. This research is supported, in part, by the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) Project Management Office (PMO) under contract # HSFE5-13-R-0031; and by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of Education under grant number H133E110002. The opinions contained in the research publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Education, NIDRR or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, IPAWS PMO.
