How to Improve your CERT Program by Incorporating Seniors and People with Access and Functional Needs CERT Conference March 2, 2013 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT James Caesar, UCSB/Isla Vista CERT and Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT CERT Conference March 2, Tips for Full Inclusion

Introductions Kathryn Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT James Caesar, UCSB/Isla Vista CERT Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire - CERT 2

Welcome…. Your Name Your Jurisdiction Do you know what AFN is Have you incorporated AFN in your CERT program? How or why not… 3

Audience Your Goals for this workshop? Your level of CERT incorporation of Seniors and People with Access and Functional Needs? 4

What we will cover; Basic ADA issues and full inclusion for CERT Programs Challenges and best practices for incorporating Seniors and PAFN The Good, the Bad and The Misunderstood! 5

Basic ADA Issues and CERT Considerations Accessible Curriculum – Print Accessible Training Accessible Facilities Always consider your audience 6

Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Curriculum Print Accessible CERT Workbooks ◦ Braille ◦ English ◦ Spanish ◦ Large print ◦ Others 7

Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Training Accessibility to ALL Always identify your audience At or BEFORE registration if possible ◦ Do you have any special requirements 8

Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Training/Drills ALWAYS Safety First – work with student – ask what they feel comfortable with and what they need Consider CERT Workgroups bring Persons with Disabilities to table – include them in planning 9

Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Facilities Be Prepared - know your audience SAFETY FIRST ◦ Accessibility ◦ Mobility issues ◦ Lighting ◦ Audio 10

Tips and Best Practices Always treat everyone with respect Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing Include them in your planning ◦ “Nothing about us without us” 11

Continuous Improvement Collaboratively Address the Action Items – Training & Drills 3. Develop Action Items 2. Build Work Groups 5. Review & Revise Actions 1. Assessment

Total Inclusion FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate FULL Inclusion ◦ Planning ◦ Training ◦ Communications ◦ Transportation ◦ Response and Recovery 13

Lessons Learned from Past Disasters Hurricane Katrina ◦ People left behind ◦ Unprepared and unable to fend for self ◦ Poor communications ability ◦ Disconnected from the community 14 Superdome – Photograph Courtesy – Alison Wright

Hurricane Sandy 15

How can CERT help? Buddy System in the Neighborhood CERT Training for all – Empower all More Resilient Neighborhoods 16

CERT Training for ALL Instructors Planning Drills - include them in planning drills CERT Job for everyone ◦ From Incident Commander to Scribe 17

CERT Buddy System CERT’s Pair up with Seniors and PAFN in neighborhood – Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster Strengthens the neighborhood Speeds up recovery efforts 18

Disability vs. Ability Mobility Communication Hearing Sight Resilient Know the community Eyes & ears of neighborhood Experience with daily challenges 19

Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Training Work with Independent Living Resource Agencies Develop relationships with Visiting Nurses Associations Work with your local Operational Area and American Red Cross Learn your district – Develop Relationships 20

The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood The Good – Everyone can have a position on a team 21

The Bad Don’t try and change the program because of the need, keep the program the same to assist with the need City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/1222 The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

Misunderstood People with AFN can’t do CERT City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/1223 The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Exercises Add them to your CERT Planning Team Get them involved in creating the scenario 24

Best Practices on how to incorporate Network Network… 25

Questions and Fears around full inclusion? Liability Disaster Service Worker criteria Misunderstanding around AFN 26

Best Practices Independent Living Resource Center Drill Santa Barbara County All CERT Drill in Lompoc, CA 27

Lessons Learned Everyone can play a part Knowing the limits of all your players Understanding the facilities you are working and teaching in Treat everyone as if there are no limits 28

Best Practices for Communicating Yes and No questions Paper and pen Charts/pictograms – point to... Pre printed forms – what is your name, what happened

10 Commandments for Communicating with PWD 1. Speak directly to them 2. Always identify yourself to someone with a visual impairment 3. Treat adults as adults 4. If you offer assistance listen for the answer 5. Place yourself at eye level when speaking 6. Tap a person with hearing disability on shoulder to get attention 30

Best Practices for Communicating Deaf Learn ASL (American Sign Language) Pictograms Charts Pencil and Paper Tap on shoulder Flash a light 31

Above and Beyond Get Informed Make a Plan Build a Kit Share it with family, neighborhood CERT Buddy System = Strong resilient neighborhoods 32

We are all in this together Right thing to do Right time For the Good of the whole community 33

QUESTIONS? Thank You 34 Working together increases everyone's chances for survival