Portland and Multnomah County Sued Over Inaccessible Emergency Systems for Disabled Residents
A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Portland and Multnomah County by Disability Rights Oregon and Bridges Oregon, alleging that the emergency systems in these areas do not provide meaningful access to people with disabilities, including those who rely on American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. The plaintiffs argue that alerts and warnings are often shared in inaccessible formats, such as videos without captions or ASL interpretation, which denies individuals with disabilities the necessary information to respond to emergencies effectively. The lawsuit highlights past incidents, such as the June 2021 heatwave, where people with disabilities were disproportionately affected due to lack of accessible information and resources. 
