VisionBridge champions highly innovative assistive tech (ATech) and continues to focus on ATech born of lived experiences amongst inventors themselves; and ALRM from the USA is no exception!
Check out this remarkable emergency alert for the deaf and hard of hearing; free for the user and supported by each venue.
ALRM was created by Gavin Phelan, a Cape Elizabeth High School student who is hard of hearing. He taught himself to code and built ALRM in response to the 2023 Lewiston tragedy, in which four Deaf Mainers lost their lives — determined that emergency information should reach everyone, every time.
Every guest gets the alert.
State Theatre in Portland and Thompson’s Point are now the first concert venues in the world to deploy ALRM — instant visual and haptic emergency alerts for Deaf and Hard of Hearing guests.
IN THE NEWS
First Deaf-Friendly Concert Venues in Maine
WGME CBS13
State Theater and Thompson’s Point Become First Deaf-Friendly Venues in Maine
State Theater in Portland and Thompson’s Point summer concert series are now the first concert venues in Maine — and among the first in the world — to deploy ALRM, providing instant visual and haptic emergency alerts for Deaf and Hard of Hearing guests.
What is an ALRM Zone?
A geofence-activated system where ALRM detects emergency sounds and delivers clear, actionable alerts to every guest in real-time.
How it works
1 Download ALRM
Free on iOS and Android. Scan the QR code on ALRM Zone signage at the venue entrance.
2 The Zone activates
When you enter State Theatre or Thompson’s Point, detection switches on automatically. Switches off when you leave.
3 Get the alert
ALRM detects fire alarms, sirens, gunshots, and more — and sends an instant visual and haptic notification.
Live music is about bringing people together, and that only works when everyone feels welcome, included, and safe. We’re proud to partner with ALRM and support Gavin’s vision of making emergency alerts accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. We’re excited to bring this resource to our guests at both the State Theatre and Thompson’s Point and continue working toward a more accessible concert experience for everyone.
Lauren Wayne, President, State Theatre Presents
- Built private by design
- On-device
- All AI detection runs locally on your phone.
- No audio saved
- Nothing is ever recorded or transmitted.
- Works offline
- No cell signal or Wi-Fi required.
- Free for guests
ALRM is always free for consumers.
For further details and an introduction to the inventor Gavin, please contact julian@visionbridge.org.uk or julian Jackson VB
