MTS announced that members of the deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech impaired (DHHSI) community now have the ability to communicate with 9-1-1 call centres in Manitoba using wireless text messaging through the Text with 9-1-1 service (T9-1-1).
“MTS is proud to offer Text with 9-1-1 across Manitoba,” said MTS President Kelvin Shepherd. “We encourage all members of the DHSSI community to register their wireless devices so they can access this important service.”
T9-1-1 is supported by all wireless service providers and is now available in areas of Manitoba with Enhanced 9-1-1 capability. Enhanced 9-1-1 provides emergency operators with the caller’s wireless phone number and the location of the cellular tower handling the call. Customers must also be in their wireless service provider’s coverage area to access T9-1-1.
MTS has a long track record of initiatives to improve accessibility. The MTS Accessibility Centre, located in the MTS Connect store at Winnipeg’s Portage Place Mall, is a comprehensive source of information on the many ways MTS improves access for customers. The Centre offers visually impaired customers contracts written in Braille or large font, and has an employee on staff who uses American Sign Language.
Customers can register for a number of programs and services at the Accessibility Centre such as TTY and IP Relay. MTS also offers an Accessibility Credit, a $15.00 monthly discount on many of MTS’s current 4G smartphone plans available exclusively to customers with speech, vision, hearing, cognitive, or physical and motor skills impairments.
The launch of T9-1-1 in Manitoba was made possible through the collaboration of the provincial Public Safety Answering Points and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.
