1. 1 Community Based Emergency Response Seminar: Preparing for All Abilities Spring 2007

2. 2 Communication Challenges Deaf Late-Deafened Hard of Hearing DeafBlind Speech-impaired Out of the Loop on Emergency Preparedness Activities Need in both auditory and visual form Need emergency information in both auditory and visual form Need to be included in activities Need to be included in emergency planning activities

3. 3 Individual Preparedness Alerts Text alerts to pagers, PDAs, cell phones, email (ex. Emergency-e, RoamSecure) Television with captioning Internet (news websites) Telephone (R-911 type systems) Buddy system with neighbor NOAA weather radio ) Regular radio – can ask a hearing person to tell you information (captioned radio under development)

4. 4 Individual Preparedness Go Kits: Tailored to the Consumers Needs Batteries or chargers for PDA, pager, cell phone, Text Messenger Portable TTY and/or amplifier for phone Assistive Listening devices Batteries: Hearing Aid, CI & other Spare Hearing Aid, CI charger Notepad & pen

5. 5 Challenges with Evacuations How do consumers learn about evacuations? Visual communication via text or sign language: computers, captioned television, text messages or sign language interpreters Text alerts and/or R9-1-1 type phone calls Special needs NOAA radios with alerting devices Door to door canvassing Direct work in the community by emergency responders and managers

6. 6 Challenges with Evacuation Advance information not always accessible / captioned Adequate and Accessible Public Transportation Announcements of available transportation modes

7. 7 Challenges with Shelters Identifying the communication needs of consumers: focus on the Identifying the communication needs of consumers: focus on the functional Can you hear & understand announcements on the public address system? Can you read and write in English? Do you need a sign language interpreter? Do you need WRITTEN announcements?

8. 8 Challenges with Shelters Prepare for visual communication Use white/blackboards, bulletin boards, postings Contract in advance with sign language interpreters, CART, computer notetakers Obtain accessible telecommunications equipment Obtain and know how to use assistive listening system(s) Have signage re: accommodations available

9. 9 Challenges with Shelters Shelter staff are often unfamiliar with service dogs, particularly hearing dogs, and that they are to be provided for under the ADA Prepare for the accommodation of service dogs in advance Train staff & volunteers to recognize service dogs Have signage / announcements that make it clear service dogs are welcome

10. 10 Challenges with Evacuations Whats needed? Accessible public information Accessible public information Accessible public transportation Accessible public transportation Not EVERYONE drives Not EVERYONE drives Training of responders Training of responders Consumer involvement in planning and drills Consumer involvement in planning and drills

11. 11 Planning: Where do we go from here? GET INVOLVED ! ! ! ! CERT, Red Cross training, join in emergency drills w/ local Emergency Management Contact 9-1-1 Center and register Encourage consumers involvement in Special Needs Committees and Advisory Boards Urge local non-profits to join VOAD

12. 12 Provide training in communication access to emergency responders Provide training in communication access to emergency responders Educate public information officers & broadcasters to ensure that emergency messages are captioned, sign language interpreters are in the broadcast picture Educate public information officers & broadcasters to ensure that emergency messages are captioned, sign language interpreters are in the broadcast picture BEST PRACTICES Guide BEST PRACTICES Guide

13. 13 Emergency Management / Red Cross Contract with interpreters / interpreter agencies in advance for shelters and other area, such as police stations, public information centers.

14. 14 Work toward pre-placement of equipment for shelters: assistive listening devices visual alerting devices display boards – blackboards, white boards, bulletin boards pen & paper TTYs and amplified phones if phones are provided in the shelter Televisions for captioned news updates

15. 15 Recovery efforts must actively include non-profit organizations that have expertise in the needs of the different disability communities Recovery efforts must actively include non-profit organizations that have expertise in the needs of the different disability communities Public announcements and information regarding recovery work must be delivered in an accessible (VISUAL) manner Public announcements and information regarding recovery work must be delivered in an accessible (VISUAL) manner - Afterwards - RECOVERY

16. 16 Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services Center, Inc. Betti Thompson, Executive Director dhhsc@yahoo.com Drema Bagley, Outreach Specialist Roanoke@deafhh.org 2030 Colonial Avenue, SW Roanoke, VA 24015 1-800-552-7917 Voice / TTY / Videophone Voice / TTY / Videophone www.deafhh.org