Our Mission

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.

 

The EARS Consortium is comprised of interested individuals, organizations, and agencies interested in promoting the mission of EARS. The Consortium provides the mechanism for collaboration and partnership between deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind consumers and emergency responders in conjunction with the mission and goals of EARS. 

​

The Consortium works to: 

• Bring community members and emergency responders together to learn from one another

• Identify educational opportunities for consumers and emergency responders

• Pool resources for achieving a common goal

• Plan and conduct workshops (in collaboration with the Program Committee)

• Collaboratively identify funding opportunities that can be useful to the EARS programs and mission

• Help recruit volunteers to actively serve on EARS committees and in leadership positions.

 

This exactly describes our amazing consortium...they are the momentum of EARS!

 

The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors set the direction of the waves, and the Consortium puts it into motion...causing an amazing momentum.

​

Our consortium comes together once a quarter to discuss new initiatives, training opportunities, community outreach and advocacy opportunities. They then get the wave moving out to the community! 

​

If you are a part of an organization that would like to get involved, or are a motivated advocate for either the deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind community, please join us!

​

You have two options to be a part of the consortium:

​

1. Active Member. This member must attend at least one EARS Consortium meeting quarterly, and has voting privileges. 

2. Associate Member. This member wants to be involved, but does not want to be 'active. They may attend any EARS Consortium meeting if open to Associate members. This member does not have voting privileges. 

 

​

Some of our current EARS Consortium members include: 

​

• Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind community,

• Office of Emergency Management for Nashville and Davidson County,

• National Weather Service, 

• American Red Cross,

• United Way/2-1-1 of Metropolitan Nashville,

• State Fire Marshal's Office,

• TN Department of Health,

• 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 for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing,

• ZVRS

• TN Association of the Deaf, Hearing Loss Association of America-Nashville Chapter,

• Disability Rights TN,

• AT&T TN Relay Service

• and many others.

​

If you are interested in joining the EARS Consortium, please complete the membership application and supplemental questionnaire, and someone will follow up with you.