Basic Sign Language and CERT Training CERT Conference March 3, 2013 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT Colette Ferran, Long Beach CERT Chelsea Brown, Pinole CERT Louise Sattler, Signing Families CERT Conference March 2, Tips for Full Inclusion of Deaf/Hoh

Introductions  Kathryn Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT  Colette Ferran, Long Beach CERT  Chelsea Brown, Pinole CERT  Louise Sattler, Signing Families CERT Conference March 3,

Welcome….  Your Name  Your Jurisdiction  Your level of working with Deaf/Hoh  Your goal for this workshop 3

What we will cover;  Basic ADA issues and full inclusion for CERT Programs  Basic Sign Language  Challenges and Best Practices 4

Guest Speaker 5  Louise Sattler of Signing Families 

Signing Families 6

Will Cover;  What does it mean “Special Populations”  Incident Level of Autism in US today  How one may identify a person “on the autisms spectrum”  How to communicate in ASL the most necessary signs City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12 7

Signing Families 8

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Basic ADA Issues and CERT  Always treat everyone with respect  Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing (Deaf and Hoh – hearing loss)  Include them in your planning  “Nothing about us without us” 10

Basics of ADA & CERT  Must make CERT Accessible to all  Curriculum  Facilities  Training City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12 11

Basic ADA Issues and CERT  Be Prepared - know your audience  SAFETY FIRST  Accessibility  Mobility issues  Lighting  Audio 12

Accessible Curriculum  CERT Workbook  Available in Braille  Available in Spanish City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12 13

Accessible Training  Ask at registration on form if the student has any special requirements  Considerations  Interpreters  Seating arrangements - City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12 14

Accessible Facilities  Identify with the person who is Deaf/Hoh the best place for seating, etc.  For blind, mobility impaired accessibility, lighting, etc. City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12 15

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” 16

Basics of ASL (American Sign Language)  ASL is the most used in America  Also SEE (Signing Exact English) not used as much  Taught in schools from elementary school 17

Demonstration  ASL  SEE Sign 18

Group Exercise  In Pairs of two:  Sign the following;  My Name is ______________ 19

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  If you KNOW that they are Deaf/Hoh  If you DON’T know if they are Deaf/Hoh 20

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  IF you KNOW they are Deaf/Hoh  Speak directly to them  Look at them face to face  Speak slow and clear 21

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh Ask them how they would like to communicate with you;  Lip reading  Paper and pencil  Interpreter  Sign Language 22

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  IF DON”T Know they are Deaf/Hoh  Tap them on shoulder or look at them directly  Ask them your question  They will “tell” you if they are or not 23

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  If you cannot get their attention  Gently tap them on the shoulder  Flash a light  Learn simple ASL signs  Have a note pad and pen handy 24

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 25

Best Practices on Communicating with Deaf/Hoh  For Assessment or Assistance  Yes or No Questions  Simple form with questions  What is your name?  How old are you?  What happened? 26

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  Identify the problem  Are you in Pain?  Point to the pain  Pictograms, Charts 27

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  How bad is the pain  Pictograms (Scale of 1-10) how bad?  Sign hurt here, hurt here? 28

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  Simple one word answers – Yes or No  Are you having trouble breathing?  Do you have chest pain?  Do you take medications? 29

Tips on how to Address a Person who is Deaf/Hoh  Simple one word answers – Yes or No  Do you have a list of your medications?  Where are your medications  Do you have someone who assists you?  Who is that? Where are they? 30

Group Exercise  In group of two  Practice – Hurt here? Hurt here  Practice - Help 31

How can CERT help?  Buddy System in the Neighborhood  CERT Training for all – Empower all  More Resilient neighborhoods 32

CERT Training for ALL  Instructors  Planning  Drills - include them in planning drills  CERT Job for everyone  From Incident Commander to Scribe 33

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 34

Disability vs. Ability 35  Communication  Hearing  Sight  Resilient  Know the community  Eyes & ears of neighborhood  Experienced  Used to challenges

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” 36

Above and Beyond  Get Informed  Make a Plan  Build a Kit  Share it with family, neighborhood CERT 37

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

We are all in this together  Right thing to do  Right time  For the Good of the whole community 39

Handouts & Take Away  Handouts at the table& on website  Time permitting – videotape on your phone, etc. a sentence you want to learn and take home in ASL 40

QUESTIONS? Thank You 41 Working together increases everyone's chances for survival