INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana residents with Verizon Wireless service can now text 911 dispatchers in nearly a third of the state’s counties as part of a push that will benefit the deaf, those with speech-impairments or people in hostage situations who are unable to speak to dispatchers.

Statewide 911 Board Executive Director Barry Ritter said that as of Wednesday morning emergency dispatchers in 28 Indiana counties had been equipped and trained to handle text-to-911 calls.