Ulster BOCES is proud to have played a role in securing Silent Call Smoke Alarms for eight local families with hearing impaired children.

Thanks to a collaborative effort between Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), steps have been taken to help ensure the safety of the hearing impaired population by reducing fire-related risk and injury to children who have hearing disabilities. The Ulster County Department of Emergency Management implemented the project and collaborated with Ulster BOCES to distribute the smoke alarms to families who could benefit from the devices.

The new Ulster County Smoke Alarm Installation Initiative was introduced on February 27 and is designed to distribute and provide free installation of the alarms to families with children suffering from hearing impairments. These fire alarms are specifically designed to transmit a vibration signal within a 100-foot radius, alerting a hearing impaired child of a fire.

After learning about the new initiative, Tammy Schaeffer, a Highland parent hoping to receive one of the alarms, approached Alison Brill, an Ulster BOCES Special Education teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Brill then contacted the Deputy Director of Emergency Services, Everett Erichsen, and connected him with eight families whose children are hearing impaired. She then coordinated a time for the families to receive their new life-saving devices.

Schaeffer's young children, who are in kindergarten and first grade at Highland Elementary School, got the chance to personally thank Hein and the firefighters for their new Silent Call Smoke Alarm.

"This is an amazing program for the community, especially for my children who are both legally deaf and rely on their cochlear implants, but do not wear them at night," said Schaeffer. "Now I am comforted that in case of a fire, my children have smoke detectors that can alert them to the danger."

Through Ulster BOCES, Brill works with both the Highland and New Paltz Central School Districts providing one-on-one services and support for both students of her program and their teachers, supplying them with the tools and skills necessary to be successful in the classroom.

To learn more about this program and see if you qualify for one of the devices, please call Ulster County Fire Coordinator Everett Erichsen at 845.334.5720.