The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), through its Office of Emergency Management (OEM), requests information from organizations that install, employ and/or provide maintenance for products to enhance the current alert and notification platform at the DSHS headquarters building in Olympia, Washington. Emergency alert and notification upgrades are needed at OB2. OEM currently employs Everbridge for email, voice, and SMS alerts however, upgrades are required to meet standards for deaf and hard of hearing employees and guests. OB2 lacks effective communication to ensure that the person with a vision, hearing, or speech disability can communicate with, receive information from, and convey information to, the covered entity. OB2 does not provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities. The key to communicating effectively is to consider the nature, length, complexity, and context of the communication and the person’s normal method(s) of communication. The rules apply to communicating with the person who is receiving the covered entity’s goods or services as well as with that person’s parent, spouse, or companion in appropriate circumstances. Duress buttons are needed to notify law enforcement quietly and efficiently for emergent incidents will enhance security capabilities.
