DOVER, DE — Today, the Delaware Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DODHH) and the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office (DSFMO) hosted a live demonstration at the Delaware Department of Labor, to officially launch the Accessibility Equipment Program. Established under House Bill 53, this vital initiative; Fire & Carbon Monoxide Alert Device Program, provides accessible visual and tactile fire and carbon monoxide alerting equipment to eligible Delaware residents.

The event, titled “Life Safety in Action: Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alert Device Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” marks a major milestone during Deaf Awareness Month. This event highlighted how specialized equipment—including flash receivers, vibrating bed shakers, and alarm clocks with bed shakers—will protect citizens who cannot hear standard audible safety alarms. “Standard audible smoke alarms are entirely ineffective if you cannot hear them, leaving the Deaf and hard of hearing communities disproportionately vulnerable to home fire fatalities,” said Rebekah LePore, program representative for the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office. “In a fire, every second counts. By providing specialized visual strobe alerts and tactile bed shakers, this program bridges a critical safety gap and ensures that these citizens receive the immediate, life-saving warnings they need to escape safely.”

Today’s presentation included a live demonstration of life-saving equipment and featured key remarks from state officials and legislative champions. In attendance were State Fire Marshal, John Rudd, Vocational Rehabilitation Director, Elisha Jenkins, Christina Feil, Delaware Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DODHH),  Representative Frank Burns, Representative Ed Osienski, and numerous members of the local hearing loss community.
“This program represents an important step towards ensuring access to critical life safety equipment for all Delawareans, and we hope it will also ease the fire safety concerns of our deaf and hard of hearing communities. We thank the members of the General Assembly for their support of this vital program”, said State Fire Marshal Rudd. State experts and lawmakers stood alongside advocates to emphasize how the Fire & CO Alert Device Program closes a dangerous gap in emergency preparedness for individuals who are Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, or blind with hearing loss.

Delaware residents seeking more information, or to apply for the program, are encouraged to visit our official program page, https://statefiremarshal.delaware.gov/fire-and-carbon-monoxide-alert-device-program-hb53/

Rebekah L. LePore, MS
Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office
1537 Chestnut Grove Road, Dover, DE 19904
OFFICE 302-257-3075 TEXT 302-383-9908

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