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Date:         Mon, 10 Aug 1992 16:11:18 -0600
From:         CONLEY JOSH SCOTT <conleyj@UCSU.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      medical assistance requested.
X-cc:         Josh Conley <"ucsu::conleyj"@VAXF.COLORADO.EDU>

Hello Deaf-L!
from josh conley
internet: conleyj@ucsu.colorado.edu

I am asking anyone out there if there is a company that makes medical devices
for hearing aid users in the EMT field.  Allow me to give u some background
on where I am coming from...

There is a Fire Dept. east of Boulder, CO. that was interested in hiring me as
a volunteer (the whole dept is volunteer).  I applied for the position as
firemedic so that I could respond to medical emergencies.  At the interview,
they liked the background that I have, but was hesitating about the idea that
although I can hear the difference between male and female voices on the radio,
I can not understand what they r saying.  As a result, three months later, my
application was turned down, as i am considered to be a threat to the safety of
myself and others around me, regardless of reasonable accomadation or not.
Even though I will be working with a hearing person as my partner (and can hear
the radio traffic and informed me of what's happening), my deafness is a threat.

I have asked for another application so I can apply for the position again, and
this time, I will have a company working with me so that I can make my case
stronger, and hopefully the ADA will back me up.  to get around the radio traffi
   c, we r suggesting that a tty be installed in the car that I will be using wi
   th
my future partner.  I will see the communication that is directed to this car,
and can respond.  I understand that there is another type of device called
"Mobile Tactical Communication (forget the last word)" that some police and
fire dept. have already started using across the country.  The county that I liv
   e in is considering installing these devices sometime in 1994 or thereabouts
   if
funding can be found.  Since the Fire Dept I want to work for is volunteer, it
is likely that they will be the last to be equipped (meaning after the year
2000).

Although the district has not said anything about it, I assume that part of the
job is to be able to hear the heart and lungs.  The standard stethescope is
worthless for me as it requires me to take out my hearing aids.  I dont even
know if I could hear the noises with the aids ON!

So this brings me up to my requesting assistance from Deaf-l.

1.  would it be a reasonable accomadation to have a tty installed in the car
using the standard radio devices?  If so, anyone out there know how to convert
voice signals to tty signals (or whatever it needs to be converted to)?  Could
I make a case of having these Mobile Tactical devices installed earlier than
what the County is planning?

2.  is there any devices that can hook up to the hearing aid so I can hear the
patient's condition in the "same" way as my hearing counterparts?  I have seen
some blood pressure devices on the market that will take the measures WITHOUT
having to listen to it, but I cant find out if they are certified by the
American Medical Society (or equivelent agency).  Anyone know?

3.  am I unique in seeking a position like this in the USA or even in the world?
   Is there any other people who already have a job in the field of Emergency Me
   di
cal Technian?

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