1. Virginia L. Moore Executive Director Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing August 2012

2. WARNING…WARNING…WARNING… How can you effectively warn and notify Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens in your area? How can you effectively warn and notify Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens in your area?

3. SCENARIO 5:30 AM: While sound asleep you feel a sudden jolt that jars you from your sleep. You immediately look over to your loved one, jump out of the bed and race to the living room unaware of what is going on. You turn the television on to get the news, hoping to get a clear and accurate message in order to protect your family and yourself. Here is what you see…

6. TRUE or FALSE?? A hard of hearing individual who can enunciate well can understand completely? An individual who depends on lip reading can catch 90% of spoken words? can catch 90% of spoken words? Non-sign language users must know and proficiently use sign language in order to communicate with sign language users?

7. DISABILITY The concept of this word is divided into two areas: - Physical Limitations - Communication Barriers Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing and Speech Impaired individuals are often left out due to lack of communication access.

8. Two people from the Department of Public Health (DPH) went to a mobile home park to inform residents to evacuate because the water sources was contaminated with mercury. There were several deaf people living there with their hearing children. The deaf people couldn’t understand what the DPH people were trying to tell them even though they wrote the word “mercury” on paper. Their children came back from swimming in the nearby creek. How could you inform them to evacuate?

9. A mass notification warning has been sent out to local residents via landline phone. TTY users haven’t received notification as the automated systems don’t work with TTY machines yet. How can this situation be resolved? How can this situation be resolved?

10. A blind person showed up at one of the emergency shelters. You found out that this person is also deaf. How would you communicate with this person? How would you communicate with this person?

11. Numbers for several emergency shelters were provided in the same regional area. Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing people are scattered throughout these shelters based on where they live. They all need communication accommodations. How can their needs be met? How can their needs be met?

12. A group of deaf mental health professionals, also certified as Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services volunteers, were informed that there was not a need for them because some of the Red Cross volunteers knew some sign language. What is the difference between deaf mental health professionals and Red Cross volunteers in terms of communication?

13. METHODS OF COMMUNICATION Gestures Paper and pen Pagers / emails / text messages Sign Language Sign Language Interpreters Videophone / Relay Services

14. RESCUE & SHELTER Accommodations needed for Accommodations needed for Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing individuals at emergency shelter(s) Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing individuals at emergency shelter(s) –Designated areas –Sign language interpreters –Assistive Technology (variety of devices) –Communication assistance –CLEAR signage indicating the above services

15. RESCUE & SHELTER, continued Designated area for Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing individuals Designated area for sign language interpreters and communication assistance with Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing victims Deaf and HH

16. Recovery Resources along with accommodations Remain at designated area if necessary Ongoing interpreters / communication assistance until they return to their home

17. Contact Information Virginia L. Moore, Executive Director Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) 632 Versailles Road Frankfort, KY 40601 502-573-2604 (v/tty) 800-372-2907 (v/tty) 502-416-0602 (VP) 502-573-3594 (fax) www.kcdhh.ky.gov