Amman, Oct. 16 (Petra)– The Public Security Directorate (PSD)
continues to enhance services for people with hearing impairments
through its “Deaf JO 114” application, which enables deaf and
hard-of-hearing people to communicate directly with the main 911
operations room in sign language around the clock.

According to statistics, the application has received approximately
20,614 calls since its launch through September 16, including 6,618
reports that required field intervention. Most reports concerned
various medical emergencies, traffic accidents and cybercrime.

Since the beginning of this year through September 16, the
application received 4,890 calls, including 1,161 reports, accounting
for approximately 24 percent of total calls. This translates into a
daily average of around 18 calls and six reports during the current
year.

The figures also show that approximately one-third of all calls
resulted in reports requiring security or emergency medical
intervention, accounting for 32 percent of calls since the service
was launched and 34 percent so far this year.

The service was introduced in 2014 through a dedicated emergency
hotline for deaf people (114). In 2020, it was further developed in
cooperation with specialized volunteers.

In 2023, the application was launched on the App Store and Google
Play, offering video calls in sign language. In 2024, it was updated
to include a callback service. Development efforts are ongoing to
ensure the application continues to meet users’ needs.

A sign language interpreter at the 911 operations room receives video
calls and gathers essential information from callers, including their
location, the nature of the report, and whether there are injuries or
an ongoing threat.

The information is then entered into the emergency reporting
management system, OnCall, and forwarded to the relevant authorities,
with the report flagged as having been submitted by a deaf person.

If further information is required, the ambulance officer in the
operations room assists by interpreting the conversation and
providing the relevant authorities with additional details. The
operations room follows up on each report with the relevant agencies
until the case is resolved.

The PSD’s efforts in this field have also included translating
security-related issues and procedures across various agencies into
sign language, as well as translating awareness materials published
on the directorate’s platforms.

These initiatives also cover awareness campaigns on cybersecurity and
electronic fraud, in addition to translating the theoretical driving
licence test into sign language for deaf people.

The project won first place globally in the 2016 Project Zero Awards.

//Petra// MF