Case Study: Northwest School for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Children achieves inclusive, ADA-compliant visual and audible emergency notification with Alertus Technologies

Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children (NWSDHH) in Shoreline, WA, serves about 45 students with 28 teachers and staff and needed an inclusive emergency alerting solution because many students and some staff are deaf or hard of hearing, making audio-only notifications ineffective. After evaluating options, NWSDHH selected Alertus Technologies and its Alertus Desktop Notification software along with Alertus Alert Beacons®, an LED Marquee and a USB Panic Button to provide both visual and audible alerts across campus.

Alertus Technologies deployed Desktop Notification across the school’s network and installed attention‑grabbing Alert Beacons, an LED Marquee and USB Panic Buttons to enable facility‑wide, ADA‑compliant alerts and discreet activation. The system now delivers full‑screen overrides and visual/audible notifications throughout the buildings, is customizable and scalable for future growth, and covers the school’s entire population (45 students, 28 staff). NWSDHH reports the Alertus solution is working as hoped and will be used in upcoming safety drills, improving the school’s ability to reach deaf and hard‑of‑hearing users.

Northwest School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

Jim Collier

Facilities Manager