Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications

1. Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEM Iowa Department of Public Health Photo courtesy of FEMA/Patsy Lynch Western Kentucky Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Conference April 25-26, 2013 Louisville, KY

2. Overview • Understanding emergency management and American’s with Disabilities Act-ADA • Identifying shelter locations • Temporary modifications • Training shelter staff • Identifying partnerships

3. Low Hanging Fruit • Accessible disaster shelters can be achieved • Provides resource typing • Creates shelter coalition • Once established, must be maintained

4. Preparedness • Preparedness means something different to each entity • Each has own priorities, different decisions and ways of planning • Or none at all • Most plan for the infrastructure being in place • 911 is their response plan

5. Ongoing Challenges for Emergency Management • Knowing level of preparedness • Public/Private engagement and maintaining it • Meeting the needs of elderly, access and functional, ethnic diversity and language barrier • Emerge with a cohesive plan of all hazard planning to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover • Money

6. Whole Community Planning • Shared, informed understanding of needs, risks and capabilities • Establishment of relationship across communities • Integration of resources • Stronger social infrastructure • Increased individual preparedness • Everybody has skin in the game

7. ADA and Emergency Management • Emergency management compliance falls under Title II • All goods, services programs provided by state and local government, including third parties entities • This includes Red Cross, faith based and nonprofits • ADA requires most integrated setting

8. ADA, Emergency Management and Sheltering • If an entity that is not required to comply with the ADA, i.e.; churches, is used for a public disaster shelter it must meet minimum ADA compliance • Emergency Management is not responsible for making permanent physical modifications but ensure that the shelter is accessible

9. Shelter Types-Historically • Mass Care or general population shelters • Special needs or medical shelters – people who need level of care provided by medical personnel, nursing homes, or hospitals • Typically people with disabilities were sent to medical shelters without their family or care provider • Accessibility was not top priority for either

10. Medical Shelters • Must be staffed with doctors, nurses and trained personnel • Best case scenario, pre-established transfer locations at same level of care before disaster • Need medical shelters so hospitals are not overwhelmed

11. Shelters • Accessible general population shelters • Heating and cooling shelters/centers • Medical shelters • Pet shelters

12. Temporary Modifications • Because the shelter is “temporary” modifications for physical accessibility can be used • Modifications do not have to be permanent, can be temporary • Modifications must meet minimum ADA guidelines

13. Where to Begin • Survey current sites for accessibility-follow DOJ/ADA guidelines • Categorize accessible to not at all • Determine is temporary modifications can increase accessibility • Inventory – know what you have and what you need

14. Four Main Areas • Parking • Entrance • Common areas • Bathrooms/shower • Typical surveys begin out and work in • Start with bathroom and work out • Survey only where the public will be

15. ADA Compliant Parking • 1 to 25 – 1 • 26 to 50 – 2 • 51 to 75 – 3 • 76 to 100 – 4 • 101 to 150 – 5 • 151 to 200 – 6 • 201 to 300 – 7 • 301 to 400 – 8 • 401 to 500 – 9 • 501 to 1000 – 2 percent of total • 1001 and over – 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

16. Temporary Shelter Parking • Three stalls = two accessible • Use the middle as an access aisle • Accessible side walk • Close to entrance • Flat surface

17. Temporary Accessible Shelter Parking

18. Orange Cone • Temporary • Blocks traffic • Easy to move

19. Temporary Upright Signage • Print and laminate • Post on temporary stand • Post high enough

20. Ramps • Can be temporary • Must meet ADA specifications • Not like the photo • Need Handrails on both sides if • over 6 inches high • 72 inches long • No ski slopes

21. Entrance • Exterior doors follow local fire code • Automatic openers are recommended -not required • Sidewalk leading up to 36 inches • 32 inch clear opening • Landing inside/outside 60 inches level • Signage to accessible entrance

22. Common Areas • Sleeping • Eating • All goods and services on one level, unless working accessible elevator • Signage and warning systems accessible- audible and visual • Quiet room(s) desirable • Path of travel

23. Adequate Space • 40 square feet per person • Generally need 80 square feet for access and functional needs • Medicots are higher and wider • Service animals • Reserve wall space – use for stability, ease of transfer • Near exit, bathrooms

24. Bathroom/Shower • Toilet – can use riser to meet minimum height of 17 – 19 inches • Temporary grab bars, must hold up to 250 lbs. • Transfer benches for showers • Handheld or adjust features • Soap and towels on counter

25. Temporary Fixtures

26. Bathroom

27. Sink

28. Service Animals - Dogs Under the ADA- • Trained to work or perform tasks to mitigate disability • Must be on harness, leash or tethered unless interferes with work • Controlled through voice or other device • Don’t need to be registered or show proof • Can only remove if the service animal posses a threat or is not housebroke • If asked to take the dog, use the leash not the harness or they will think they are on duty Photo courtesy of Mary R. Vogt

29. Service Animals – Miniature Horses • Generally 24 -34 inches from shoulders • Weigh between 70 – 100 pounds • Entities covered by the ADA must modify their policies where reasonable • Been individually trained to do work or perform tasks • Must be under control, housebroken • Will not compromise safety • Facility can accommodate the type, size, and weight

30. Service Animals in Shelters Staff may ask two questions • “Is it required because of a disability?” • “What work or task has it been trained to perform?” • Cannot ask about the person’s disability • Cannot require medical documentation, special identification card or training documentation • Or ask the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task

31. Training Shelter Staff • Understand the anatomy of a disaster • Incident Command • National Incident Management System • How to support people with access and functional needs in the shelter • Personal/family preparedness • Donations management

32. Resource/Coalition Building In Kentucky • Search online for community provider associations • Begin partnership/coalition building • Find experts in the field who can answer questions • Maintain resource list • Kentucky Provider Directory • Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service

33. Intake • Need staff that are knowledgeable regarding disability • Information must be kept confidential • Determine what will maintain health and safety, immediate needs • Contingency plan when needs can’t be met

34. Yet Another Committee • Yes there is upfront work • Identify providers, for example • Transportation • Communication • Assistive technology • Work in shelter • Write them into your plan, email periodically to maintain current contact • Become a virtual participant

35. I Wish It Were This Easy

36. Take Away • Stop planning for disability specific • Use Whole Community Planning & • access and functional needs approach • Establish partnerships with providers • Educate each other • Everyone has something to offer

37. How Am I Going To Remember All This? • ADA Homepage has toolkits and checklists • http://ada.gov/shleterck.htm • FNSS Guidance • Department of Justice technical assistance (800) 514-0301 voice • ESF #6 Template for Mass Care and Human • Services • Call me

38. Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEM Iowa Department of Public Health 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075 Karin.Ford@idph.iowa.gov 515-242-6336