Seattle Mayor Nickels Holds First Emergency Press Conference with Interpreter for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Seattle, Washington – On July 29th, 2009, Mayor Greg Nickels held an emergency press conference to communicate a weather-related emergency to the citizens of Seattle, incorporating translation services with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for the first time. Representatives from the Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC) were involved in discussions with city officials leading to the new protocol, in which an ASL interpreter will be included in all emergency press conferences from the Mayor’s office moving forward.

Involved in the discussion which led to the new protocol were HSDC’s CEO, Susie Burdick, Director of Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, Ariele Belo, and Manager of the Emergency Education Program, Donna Platt. HSDC applauds the City of Seattle’s effort in ensuring that all Seattle citizens have equal and timely access to emergency information.

“Not only were the City of Seattle and the staff of the Emergency Management Department responsive, they were proactive in seeking our input to better serve the citizens of Seattle.  Their commitment to service is inspiring”, said Susie Burdick, in response to the change in protocol.

Mayor's Press Conference: Extreme Weather Response
7/28/2009: Mayor Greg Nickels holds a press conference to discuss the city's efforts to keep people safe during the extreme weather.