ADA Forms to Benefit Residents, First Responders

MOUNT VERNON, April 25, 2023 – Knox County officials have announced a new countywide
effort aimed at improving the safety of residents with special needs in the event of an emergency.
The initiative will provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) forms to households with people
who may have special needs to help first responders better gauge the correct response in case of
a fire/EMS response or a call for service from law enforcement.

The ADA form will allow residents to provide details about any special needs or considerations that
first responders should be aware of, as well as any special instructions that would be helpful in an
emergency situation. These forms will be accessible only by first responders and emergency
service personnel to ensure that the information is kept confidential and used only for the purpose
of enhancing the safety of Knox County residents.

“We recognize that emergency situations can be especially challenging for individuals with special
needs and their families,” said Mount Vernon City Councilwoman Amber Keener, who led the
initiative to implement the program locally. Keener added, “By providing ADA forms to households
with special needs, we hope to improve the response of our first responders and make our
communities safer for everyone.”

The first step in this effort is to distribute ADA forms to households with individuals who may have
special needs. Residents can obtain the form by visiting the City of Mount Vernon website under
Documents or by visiting the Knox County 9-1-1 website at https://co.knox.oh.us/911-dispatch/.
“We encourage all residents who have special needs or have a family member with special needs
to complete the ADA form as soon as possible,” said 9-1-1 Director Laura Webster. “By doing so,
we can ensure that first responders are better equipped to handle emergencies and can provide
the appropriate level of care to all Knox County residents.”

For more information about the ADA form initiative or to obtain an ADA form, please visit the Knox
County website or contact Laura Webster at (740) 393-6728..