VIDEO: A new law set to take effect this month is geared toward helping first responders and people with disabilities communicate. After being passed and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in October, House Bill 144, better known as Keith’s Law, will officially go into effect in Ohio on Jan. 19. The bill is designed to improve the interactions between first responders and those with disabilities by informing the first responders of the individual’s specific needs ahead of time.
“At a county level, we are very excited to see something like this go statewide,” said Erin Anthony, a behavioral specialist. “There were many counties that have implemented this, but it hasn’t been statewide, and it is definitely a need.”
Keith’s Law expands the state’s Communication Disability Database, allowing individuals to register their disability in a form to be stored in 911 dispatchers’ systems so first responders are aware of a person’s condition before they arrive on scene.
