Emergency Response and the ADA

1. Emergency Response and the ADA Trainer’s Name ADA Trainer Network Module 5h

2. Disclaimer Information, materials, and/or technical assistance are intended solely as informal guidance, and are neither a determination of your legal rights or responsibilities under the ADA, nor binding on any agency with enforcement responsibility under the ADA. The Northeast ADA Center is authorized by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to provide information, materials, and technical assistance to individuals and entities that are covered by the ADA. The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from NIDILRR, grant number 90DP0071-01-00. NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

3. The ADA Applies to: • All services, programs, and activities of state and local governments – including those offered through a third party. • The goods, services, and facilities of private businesses.

4. ADA, Program Access, and Emergency Planning • Identify physically accessible shelter locations • Consider the needs of those with mobility, psychiatric, sensory, and cognitive disabilities • Ensure access to reliable, accessible transportation • Prepare Knowledgeable, welcoming, staff and volunteers

5. Effective Communication Is communication that is as effective as that provided to people without disabilities Covers warnings, announcements, intake procedures, and interpersonal communication

6. Factors to Consider • Duration and complexity of the communication • Context of communication • Number of people involved and/or in need of the communication • Importance and potential impact of the communication

7. Examples of Effective Communication • Hearing disabilities -Qualified interpreters, captioning of emergency alerts, transcription services, video remote interpreting (VRI) • Speech disabilities - Speech synthesizer, computer/tablet, communication board • Visual disabilities - alternate format such as large print or braille, screen reader accessible web and mobile applications, readers, assistance with directions in unfamiliar surroundings

8. Structural Accessibility • All new construction and alterations to existing facilities must be readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities • Do not have to make an existing facility accessible if able to provide program access • If program access not possible, then must provide structural access unless it would result in undue burden or fundamental alteration

9. Service Animals • A dog or in some cases, a miniature horse) • Used by people with a variety of disabilities • May or may not be harnessed/identifiable • Must be allowed to enter the shelter even if there is a “No Pets” policy • Can ask “Is this a service animal?” and “What task has the animal been trained to perform?” • Cannot impose additional fees, surcharges, deposits, etc. for having/allowing a service animal

10. Reasonable Modification Must make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures, when needed to avoid discrimination.

11. Planning for People with Disabilities • Access to information; notifications, communications, warnings • Evacuation including transportation • Physical access to shelters • Availability of medications, refrigeration, and back-up power sources • Plan of an individual to use their mobility device in an emergency environment • Need to keep service animal with the person

12. Planning for Disability Specific Needs Mobility disabilities • Accessing shelter quickly in an emergency event • Loss or damage of durable equipment or mobility aids • Returning home over a debris covered path of travel • Repairing a damaged home

13. Planning for Disability Specific Needs Sensory disabilities • Reading materials in an inaccessible format • Hearing warning alerts or seeing danger areas on a weather map • Understanding what a meteorologist is saying if no captioning is provided • Dealing with navigational obstacles in temporary housing or shelter

14. Planning for Disability Specific Needs Cognitive disabilities • Fear of unfamiliar people including first responders • Difficulty comprehending instructions, particularly from multiple sources • Isolation in shelter if separated from family member, friend, or companion • Having an official assume that she or he does not understand

15. The Emergency Planning Process • Include people with disabilities in planning • Consider preparation, notification, response, clean up, and return • Employ a collaboration of community supports

16. Additional Resources Guide for Local Governments http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm Best Practices Tool Kit http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7emergencymgmt.htm Planning for Employees with Disabilities http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/effective.htm

17. Additional Resources Northeast ADA Center’s Business Community Brief http://www.northeastada.org/docs/DBTAC_Research%20Brief_Business%20Continuity%202.pdf Free Emergency Preparedness Webinars http://adapacific.org/emergency/webinars.php Produced by the Pacific ADA Center and the ADA National Network

18. Northeast ADA Center K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability Cornell University Dolgen Hall Room 201 Ithaca, New York 14853-3901 Toll-Free : 800.949.4232 (NY, NJ, PR, USVI) Telephone 607.255.6686 Fax 607.255.2763 TTY 607.255.6686 Email northeastada@cornell.edu Web www.northeastada.org The contents of this presentation were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP0071-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this presentation do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.