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Empowering People with Disabilities: The NJ CERT Experience in Bergen and Mercer Counties

The NJ CERT program has taken two distinct paths in Bergen and Mercer Counties to empower individuals with disabilities through emergency response training. Bergen County, led by Detective Gidget Petry, established New Jersey’s first CERT class for people with disabilities five years ago, focusing on enhancing responders' awareness and readiness among participants. Mercer County, after advocacy efforts, launched its training in 2008, accommodating recruits with a background in emergency response. Both counties highlight the importance of accessibility, preparation, and community integration.

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Empowering People with Disabilities: The NJ CERT Experience in Bergen and Mercer Counties

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  1. The NJ CERT Experience Bringing in People with Disabilities

  2. Two Counties – Two Paths • Bergen County lead the way five years ago • Mercer County offered training in 2008 • Each took a different path • Each had different but positive experience

  3. Bergen County’s Path Information Provided by: Detective GidgetPetry, Bergen County Sherriff’s Office Instrumental in bringing New Jersey’s first CERT class for people with disabilities to reality

  4. Bergen County’s Path • Bergen’s initial purposes in conducting this class were two-fold: • To improve emergency responders’ awareness of providing service to the vast array of individuals with functional needs. • To improve the ability of people with disabilities to prepare for and respond to emergency situations that may occur.

  5. Bergen County’s Path Bergen implemented simple steps for class • The facility where the class was taught was 100% A D A compliant. • Extra instructors were on hand -- 3 students for every 1 instructor ratio • Disability etiquette class was required for all instructors.  

  6. Bergen County’s Path • Applications for class allowed for participants to specify what accommodations they needed Plan ahead for these kinds of accommodations -- may impact both planning and budgeting • Transportation was a big issue -- It will ALWAYS be The Big Issue

  7. Bergen County’s Path Basic CERT Course not changed. “You haven’t lived until you see a blind person put out a fire with an extinguisher.” -- Detective GidgetPetry

  8. Mercer County’s Path • County OEM approached in 2005 by advocates -- Finally acted upon in 2008 • Training held in day to ease transportation • Held at accessible housing campus • CERT Coordinator ran most of the course

  9. Mercer County’s Path • Most Recruits used wheelchairs • Most Recruits had backgrounds as either responders or advocates • Recruits knew each other – Many worked together previously

  10. Mercer County’s Path Doreen Robertson – Mercer CERT Coordinator

  11. Mercer’s Graduation

  12. Mercer Deployed for Drill

  13. Contact Information Norman A. Smith ProjectFreedom1@aol.com Scott Ellis Scott.Ellis@pcil.org

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