Disability Indicator

If you have a disability and landline telephone service, you may qualify to have a unique code appear during 9-1-1 calls to indicate to emergency services that you may require special assistance.

The Massachusetts Disability Indicator Program offers a free, voluntary service that alerts 9-1-1 personnel that an individual with a disability lives in the home and may have unique safety, communications or other needs in case of an emergency.  This service is available for landline telephone service subscribers only.  It is necessary to request the service through completion of the Disability Indicator Form (PDF). 

When 9-1-1 is dialed from a landline telephone, the 9-1-1 system automatically displays the caller’s name, address, and telephone number on the call taker’s screen. The information provided on the Disability Indicator Form enables a special code to appear on the call taker’s screen that alerts the call taker that a person residing at that address may require special assistance during an emergency. The information provided will only appear on the call taker’s screen when a 9-1-1 call originates from the address on the form.

In Ashfield it is necessary to submit the Disability Indicator Form to the Police Department.  Once it is submitted to the police department, the police chief (or designee) signs and submits the form to the 9-1-1 service provider for entry into the 9-1-1 location database.  The police department will retain the original form for its records and for use with annual verification of the database.  If the Disability Indicator Form is not completed properly, the information will not be entered into the 9-1-1 system.

PLEASE NOTE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO SUBMIT A NEW DISABILITY INDICATOR FORM UPON CHANGE OF SERVICE PROVIDER, TELEPHONE NUMBER, OR ADDRESS, OR TO ADD OR DELETE A DISABILITY, OR TO ADD A NEW RESIDENT WITH DISABILITY.