We recently received a very nice thank you message from a resident, and with their permission we would like to share it with you.

Hi Mike & LFD,

I was just thinking of you and LFD who provided the Sonic alert built in smoke/CO2 alarm system for our family. We purchased baby cry transmitter to connect with the alarm system that you provided for our home. I truly appreciate your support and kindness! It has made such a meaningful difference for us.

I also wanted to share a story with you and the department that was recently published by Michigan Medicine about my birth experience as a Deaf mother. I hope it helps highlight why accessibility and community support, like what you provided for us, truly matters.

Spreading Deaf Awareness is so important to us, and we hope our experiences help others gain a deeper understanding while promoting accessibility and inclusion for the Deaf community

Thank you all again for everything you do to keep families safe and supported. We are so grateful.

Stay warm!!!

The Wilks Family

Here are some details from Lieutenant Mike Furstenau(Fire Prevention) . "I installed a "Bed Shaker" alarm which is designed for the hearing impaired and available to us through the State of Michigan smoke detector program. It is essentially an alarm clock that plugs in to a standard electrical socket and it will flash strobes and vibrate the bed when it hears the ceiling mounted smoke/CO alarm that I also installed. There are attachments available (Not from the State of Michigan and not from the City of Livonia) that can alert deaf residents of the door bell, baby monitor, etc. the Wilks family purchased the attachment that enables her and her husband (who is also deaf) to be notified by the alarm clock when it hears the baby crying via the baby monitor."

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/deaf-mothers-birth-story