In early 2009, the idea for "EARS" began. There was a need for education and alerting devices for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind community in the event of an emergency. The goal is to utilize existing services if available. Representation comes from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, Office of Emergency Management for Davidson County
, United Way/2-1-1 of Metropolitan Nashville, State Fire Marshal's Office, TN Emergency Communications Board, TN Department of Health, State 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Board, National Center for Emergency Preparedness, TN Council for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind & Hard of Hearing, TN Disability Coalition, TN Disability Pathfinder, Library Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing-Nashville Public Library, Bridges (Serving the Deaf & Hard of Hearing), ZVRS and TN Association of the Deaf, Hearing Loss Association of America-Nashville Chapter, Disability Rights TN, AT&T TN Relay Service and others. The mission statement that guides EARS is: "The EARS program exists to provide emergency preparedness training, appropriate early warning equipment, and the coordination of emergency services for the benefit of persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind." EARS continues to work on formalizing its structure and to address the needs of those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind and responder communities in partnership with one another.
2017 EARS Board of Directors:
Donicé Kaufman, President
John Walsh, Vice President
Sandy Cohen, Secretary
Phil Yater, Treasurer
Nancy Yater, Governance Chair
Heidi Mariscal, Consortium Chair
Andrew Perlman, Past President
