Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities

1. Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities

2. Presenters Joanna L. King, MS, CTRS Project Coordinator joanna.king@temple.edu Kathryn Helland, MS, CCC-S Communication Specialist tug34189@temple.edu

3. Introduction Today we will discuss: • General emergency preparedness; • Ways you can help your consumers get ready for an emergency; and • Identify state and local resources that are available. • Recent disasters have shown many local, state and federal agencies are not prepared for assisting people with disabilities in evacuation, sheltering, and/or recovery efforts. • Unexpected disasters, events, or emergencies may cause harm to your staff and the people they serve and may interrupt operations.

4. Activity

5. Possible points: 45

6. Preparation • Before you can help someone create an emergency response plan, you need to understand the importance of being prepared and the challenges someone may face. • If employees are prepared themselves, you will be more effective in helping others to prepared, and in assisting the wider community.

7. 1,696,250* People with disabilities manage emergency situations every single day. *Pennsylvania

8. Emergency Preparedness Statistics • 96% of Americans live in a county affected by at least one weather-related disaster in the last five years. BUT • 60% of American adults have not practiced what to do in a disaster in the past year. • 39% have developed an emergency plan and discussed it with their family. Number of Americans living in counties declared federal disaster areas due to severe weather-related events. (Data source: Environment America)

9. The Prepared Lifestyle Why Be Prepared?

10. Why Prepare? • Preparedness saves lives and can lessen chaos. • It is a lifestyle choice that requires commitment, action and a little money. • Being prepared makes sense for everyone – and it is possible to do.

11. How Can You Help? Be PROactive. Your organization may be the first place an individual with a disability contacts for information about an emergency.

12. Helping Others (and yourself) Plan for Emergencies It is critical for all people to prepare themselves for emergency situations. Your organization can play an important role in helping staff and individuals you serve take responsibility for their own preparation. It’s important to emphasize the individual responsibility for people with disabilities to advocate for themselves.

13. Helping Others (and yourself) Plan for Emergencies Training should include: Identifying common issues during an evacuation; Sheltering; and Recovery Before you can help individuals create an emergency plan, they need to understand the importance of being prepared and the problems they may face including the possible lack of communication.

14. Identify Potential Emergencies • Research previous emergencies in your community. • Emergencies can be either natural or man-made. • Identify potential emergencies based on where your organization is located and the areas you serve.

15. Local Emergencies Three Mile Island, 1979 Susquehanna River

16. Top 10 Potential Emergencies Natural • Floods • Fires • Winter Storms • Tropical Storms, Tornadoes, & Thunderstorms • Influenza (Flu) Pandemic • Earthquakes & Landslides Man-Made • Hazardous Material Incidents • Nuclear Threat • Dam Failures • Terrorism

17. Planning for Communication Things to consider when supporting individuals with various disabilities.

18. Disability Etiquette Disabilities May Be Associated With: • Hearing • Mobility • Cognition • Vision • Speech/Communication • Learning • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Mental Health/Emotional Conditions • Chronic Health Conditions

19. General Communication Guidelines Ask the Person with a Disability First: • If you are in doubt about what you should do as you communicate with a customer or colleague, ask the individual what their preference is for the best way to communicate with or provide assistance to them.

20. Person-First Language • Use People First Language. “People First Language is not political correctness, instead, it demonstrates good manners, respect, and more—it can change the way we see a person, and it can change the way a person sees themselves.” • Some disability organizations prefer not to use People First Language. • You may hear customers and colleagues refer to themselves or others without using People First Language. Respect their choice. • When talking about assistance needed by individuals with disabilities, speak in terms of adjustments, assistance, accommodations, and assistive technology.

21. One Size Does Not Fit All • Do not assume that the communication preference for one person with a specific disability will be the same preference for another person with a similar disability. • Ask the person with a disability the best way to communicate with them. • Customize communication to meet the individual needs of the person with a disability according to the individual’s expressed preferences.

22. Barriers to Effective Communication for PWDs • Most disaster response systems are designed for people who can quickly understand and respond to instructions and alerts. • Televised emergency announcements do not always include American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. • Inaccessible emergency notification systems and evacuation maps. • Websites not accessible to screen readers . • Shelter communication and emergency communicationlanguage can be inaccessible for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or limited English proficiency.

23. Communication Example Susan is deaf and could see pictures of flooding on the TV, but did not realize she was in danger. When the evacuation warnings were issued on the news, they were not captioned. She did not leave her home until the flooding was dangerously close. Susan is a diabetic and relies on medication and did not have prescriptions or a supply with her. She began having symptoms of weakness, fatigue, and confusion after the first day of living in a shelter.

24. Keep in Mind Disability Specific Topics

25. Deaf and hard of hearing • Hearing loss varies from mild to profound. • Need for redundant systems as one size does not fit all. • Alerts may be provided by television (captioned), radio, phone/TTY, computer, cell phone, text messaging • Use of trained interpreters (ASL ≠ English) • AT use may include: • Hearing Aids • Captioned Phones • TTY Relay service • Smartphone with visual alerts and video call apps • Doorbells • Smoke detectors with strobe lights

26. Vision Loss • Legally blind = acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the best possible. correction, and/or a visual field of 20 degrees or less. • Vision loss is variable and individuals may retain some residual vision. • Auditory alerts/information, braille (not all those with vision loss read braille). • AT use may include: • Canes • Video magnification • Screen readers (computer) • Voice Over on smartphones • Apps for optical character recognition

27. Intellectual/ Developmental Disability • May vary from mild to profound; may have concomitant hearing or vision loss, mobility impairments • May be verbal or not have access to spoken communication • May not understand emergency directions leading to confusion, disorientation • May experience anxiety with abrupt changes in routine • Will benefit from repetition, chunking, and visual supports for emergency information. • AT use may include: • Wheelchair/other mobility supports, • Speech generating device (SGD) or low tech AAC supports • Visual supports, visual schedules • Use of apps for reminders, and navigation

28. Mobility Impairment • Variable levels of support needed. • Access method needed for emergency warnings may depend on fine motor skills, other sensory impairments • Equipment must follow the individual whenever possible. • May also use a service animal for safety and mobility needs. • AT use may include: • Cane, walker, manual wheelchair, scooter, powered mobility • Smarthome tech for access to telecommunication, news, environmental controls. *Equipment may be heavy

29. Non-verbal • May or may not coexist with other disability types. • May not understand emergency directions leading to confusion, disorientation. • May experience anxiety with abrupt changes in routine. • Will benefit from repetition, chunking, and visual supports for emergency information. • Informal communication may include the use of gestures and facial expressions. • AT use may include • Wheelchair/other mobility supports • Speech generating device (SGD) or low tech AAC supports. • Low tech visual supports, visual schedules • Use of apps

30. Emergency Kits Shelter-in-Place Go Kit

31. Preparing for Emergencies When preparing you’ll want to have a minimum of supplies that could last you 72 hours. Each person should have their own emergency plan that addresses communication and mobility needs, assistive technology (AT), medications, and pets.

32. Emergency Kits Shelter-in-Place “Shelter-in-place” is another way of saying “stay inside.” Go-Kit Things you may need to take with you, quickly, in the case of an evacuation.

33. Shelter-in-Place Contents Your shelter-in-place kit should have enough supplies to last up to three (3) days. • Copy of Emergency Readiness Plan* • Identification and important documents (i.e. list of medications and dosages, insurance cards, proof of address)* • Cash and credit cards (cash is best) • Prescription medications • First Aid Kit • Bottled water (one gallon, per person, per day) • Non-perishable food • Radio (battery operated or hand-crank) and extra batteries • Flashlight and extra batteries • Personal hygiene items (soap, wipes, toilet paper, deodorant, feminine hygiene products)  • Whistle  • Pocket knife • Manual can opener • Emergency Mylar blankets • Change of clothes (Include durable and comfortable shoes, If you live in a cold climate, consider adding additional warm clothing in the kit) • Toothbrush and toothpaste  Assemble all of your items in a durable waterproof or water safe container.

34. Go-Kit Additional Items for Go-Kit • Waterproof matches • Rain ponchos • Dust mask  • Trash bags • Work gloves  • Medical gloves • Pen and paper  • Duct Tape • Extra keys to your house and vehicle(s) A Go-Kit should be easily accessible if you have to leave your home in a hurry, and each household member’s Go-Kit should be packed in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container such as a backpack.

35. Don’t Forget… • Check the food and batteries in your kit twice a year to make sure they haven’t expired. An easy way to remember is to check each time you reset your clocks for the start or end of Daylight Savings Time.

36. Take it With You • Plan to take Assistive Technology with you when possible. • Your Go Bag should include water proof copies of device warranties, insurance reports, backups of software. • Reused equipment programs may be able to help replace lost equipment or with obtaining equipment for emergency kits.

37. Cloud Storage for AT Information, Backups • Cloud Storage of documents relating to personal AT/AAC devices • Maintain backups of AAC vocabulary sets • If device is lost or damaged, familiar vocabulary layout can be downloaded onto replacement device • Maintain copies of evaluation reports, insurance requests and device warranties • May facilitate replacement of equipment lost during an emergency

38. Supplies for People with Disabilities Power Supplies • For those who depend on power for equipment or refrigeration, have a back-up power supply (generator, charged batteries, adapter plug for vehicle). • For devices that use batteries, extra batteries. Hearing • Notebook and pen • Battery-operated light • Visual or sensory alerts • Vibrating/strobe alarm clock • Batteries • Communication devices • Apps? • Other _______

39. Supplies for People with Disabilities Sight • Extra pair of glasses • Extra supply of contact lenses • Extra cane • Portable radio with batteries. • Apps ? • Other _______ Mobility • Manual chair for electric wheelchair users. • AT for eating. Mobility Continued • Pair of heavy-duty gloves for wheeling over debris. • AT for daily living • Extra charged battery for a power wheelchair or scooter. • Backpack with smaller supplies on this list (to grab and attach to chair). • Other _______

40. Built in accessibility features of Apple Devices • Magnification uses the iPhone camera to magnify and provide alternate color contrast for people with low vision • Setting → General → Accessibility → Vision → magnifier • Text to Speech: Type in Notes app for instant text to speech • Setting → General → Accessibility → Vision → Speak Screen & Speak Selection • Use the camera to take pictures of people, locations, &/or barriers during an emergency

41. Possible App Solution: Seeing AI • Can provide someone with VI information about their surroundings. • Provides Optical Character Recognition for reading short text aloud • Can read codes on products and provide product information (including product warnings) • Can now read some handwriting for short text. • Reliability? Seeing AI

42. Service Animal/ Pet Preparedness Do NOT leave service animals or pet(s) behind during a disaster. Preplanning • Make arrangements for someone to care for your animal in times when you cannot get home during a disaster. • Determine places that will take your animal during an evacuation • Make sure each animal is chipped or has a collar. Important Documentation • Breed, color(s), markings, age, sex, neutered or unneutered, any medical and behavioral problems, and medical and feeding schedules. • Service animal identification. • Veterinarian name and number. • Photo for identification in case you are separated. Put photo on carrier too. • Copy of vaccination record.

43. Animal Supply Kit • Important documentation • Collar and tag for each animal that has your phone number. • Sturdy leash and harness. • Well-labeled cage/carrier for each animal (for transport, to prevent escape and for safe return) with animal identification information, your phone number, and photo of animal. • 3-day supply of food and water with can opener, food and water bowls. • Bedding, favorite toy, brush and comb. • Extra supply of medications. • Plastic bags/paper towels.

44. Resources For Your Organization County Emergency Planning Services, Shelters, and Transportation Services

45. Where to Start • Assign a staff member or group of staff to coordinate the collection, development, and distribution of preparedness materials. • Use existing educational materials and/or develop your own. • Distribute information through email, newsletters, websites, regularly. Possible Idea:Develop individual emergency response binders or folders for staff and community members.

46. Supporting Individuals with Planning • Complete a medical history form to keep with important papers to be taken with during an evacuation. • Collect important documents. Demonstrate ways of storing them both hard copy and electronically. • Educate individuals how they can work with their doctors or pharmacists to ensure they have enough medication at all times. • Provide ongoing support to work on personal preparation checklists and plans.

47. Emergency Management Agency/ Dept. of Health Contacts List It is important to know who in your community will be able to help during a disaster, particularly if you have a disability. Your county emergency management agency can help you get ready for emergencies before they happen.

50. Shelters Sheltering is appropriate when conditions require that you seek protection in your home, place of employment, or other location when disaster strikes. Sheltering outside the hazard area could include staying with friends and relatives, seeking commercial lodging or staying in a mass care facility operated by disaster relief groups.