1 / 38

Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications

Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications. Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEM Iowa Department of Public Health. Photo courtesy of FEMA/Patsy Lynch. Western Kentucky Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Conference April 25-26, 2013 Louisville, KY. Overview.

cayla
Download Presentation

Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEM Iowa Department of Public Health Photo courtesy of FEMA/Patsy Lynch Western Kentucky Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Conference April 25-26, 2013 Louisville, KY

  2. Overview • Understanding emergency management and American’s with Disabilities Act-ADA • Identifying shelter locations • Temporary modifications • Training shelter staff • Identifying partnerships

  3. Low Hanging Fruit • Accessible disaster shelters can be achieved • Provides resource typing • Creates shelter coalition • Once established, must be maintained

  4. Preparedness • Preparedness means something different to each entity • Each has own priorities, different decisions and ways of planning • Or none at all • Most plan for the infrastructure being in place • 911 is their response plan

  5. Ongoing Challenges for Emergency Management • Knowing level of preparedness • Public/Private engagement and maintaining it • Meeting the needs of elderly, access and functional, ethnic diversity and language barrier • Emerge with a cohesive plan of all hazard planning to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover • Money

  6. Whole Community Planning • Shared, informed understanding of needs, risks and capabilities • Establishment of relationship across communities • Integration of resources • Stronger social infrastructure • Increased individual preparedness • Everybody has skin in the game

  7. ADA and Emergency Management • Emergency management compliance falls under Title II • All goods, services programs provided by state and local government, including third parties entities • This includes Red Cross, faith based and nonprofits • ADA requires most integrated setting

  8. ADA, Emergency Management and Sheltering • If an entity that is not required to comply with the ADA, i.e.; churches, is used for a public disaster shelter it must meet minimum ADA compliance • Emergency Management is not responsible for making permanent physical modifications but ensure that the shelter is accessible

  9. Shelter Types-Historically • Mass Care or general population shelters • Special needs or medical shelters – people who need level of care provided by medical personnel, nursing homes, or hospitals • Typically people with disabilities were sent to medical shelters without their family or care provider • Accessibility was not top priority for either

  10. Medical Shelters • Must be staffed with doctors, nurses and trained personnel • Best case scenario, pre-established transfer locations at same level of care before disaster • Need medical shelters so hospitals are not overwhelmed

  11. Shelters • Accessible general population shelters • Heating and cooling shelters/centers • Medical shelters • Pet shelters

  12. Temporary Modifications • Because the shelter is “temporary” modifications for physical accessibility can be used • Modifications do not have to be permanent, can be temporary • Modifications must meet minimum ADA guidelines

  13. Where to Begin • Survey current sites for accessibility-follow DOJ/ADA guidelines • Categorize accessible to not at all • Determine is temporary modifications can increase accessibility • Inventory – know what you have and what you need

  14. Four Main Areas • Parking • Entrance • Common areas • Bathrooms/shower • Typical surveys begin out and work in • Start with bathroom and work out • Survey only where the public will be

  15. ADA Compliant Parking • 1 to 25 – 1 • 26 to 50 – 2 • 51 to 75 – 3 • 76 to 100 – 4 • 101 to 150 – 5 • 151 to 200 – 6 • 201 to 300 – 7 • 301 to 400 – 8 • 401 to 500 – 9 • 501 to 1000 – 2 percent of total • 1001 and over – 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

  16. Temporary Shelter Parking • Three stalls = two accessible • Use the middle as an access aisle • Accessible side walk • Close to entrance • Flat surface

  17. Temporary Accessible Shelter Parking

  18. Orange Cone • Temporary • Blocks traffic • Easy to move

  19. Temporary Upright Signage • Print and laminate • Post on temporary stand • Post high enough

  20. Ramps • Can be temporary • Must meet ADA specifications • Not like the photo • Need Handrails on both sides if • over 6 inches high • 72 inches long • No ski slopes

  21. Entrance • Exterior doors follow local fire code • Automatic openers are recommended -not required • Sidewalk leading up to 36 inches • 32 inch clear opening • Landing inside/outside 60 inches level • Signage to accessible entrance

  22. Common Areas • Sleeping • Eating • All goods and services on one level, unless working accessible elevator • Signage and warning systems accessible- audible and visual • Quiet room(s) desirable • Path of travel

  23. Adequate Space • 40 square feet per person • Generally need 80 square feet for access and functional needs • Medicots are higher and wider • Service animals • Reserve wall space – use for stability, ease of transfer • Near exit, bathrooms

  24. Bathroom/Shower • Toilet – can use riser to meet minimum height of 17 – 19 inches • Temporary grab bars, must hold up to 250 lbs. • Transfer benches for showers • Handheld or adjust features • Soap and towels on counter

  25. Temporary Fixtures

  26. Bathroom

  27. Sink

  28. Service Animals - Dogs Under the ADA- • Trained to work or perform tasks to mitigate disability • Must be on harness, leash or tethered unless interferes with work • Controlled through voice or other device • Don’t need to be registered or show proof • Can only remove if the service animal posses a threat or is not housebroke • If asked to take the dog, use the leash not the harness or they will think they are on duty Photo courtesy of Mary R. Vogt

  29. Service Animals – Miniature Horses • Generally 24 -34 inches from shoulders • Weigh between 70 – 100 pounds • Entities covered by the ADA must modify their policies where reasonable • Been individually trained to do work or perform tasks • Must be under control, housebroken • Will not compromise safety • Facility can accommodate the type, size, and weight

  30. Service Animals in Shelters Staff may ask two questions • “Is it required because of a disability?” • “What work or task has it been trained to perform?” • Cannot ask about the person’s disability • Cannot require medical documentation, special identification card or training documentation • Or ask the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task

  31. Training Shelter Staff • Understand the anatomy of a disaster • Incident Command • National Incident Management System • How to support people with access and functional needs in the shelter • Personal/family preparedness • Donations management

  32. Resource/Coalition Building In Kentucky • Search online for community provider associations • Begin partnership/coalition building • Find experts in the field who can answer questions • Maintain resource list • Kentucky Provider Directory • Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service

  33. Intake • Need staff that are knowledgeable regarding disability • Information must be kept confidential • Determine what will maintain health and safety, immediate needs • Contingency plan when needs can’t be met

  34. Yet Another Committee • Yes there is upfront work • Identify providers, for example • Transportation • Communication • Assistive technology • Work in shelter • Write them into your plan, email periodically to maintain current contact • Become a virtual participant

  35. I Wish It Were This Easy

  36. Take Away • Stop planning for disability specific • Use Whole Community Planning & • access and functional needs approach • Establish partnerships with providers • Educate each other • Everyone has something to offer

  37. How Am I Going To Remember All This? • ADA Homepage has toolkits and checklists • http://ada.gov/shleterck.htm • FNSS Guidance • Department of Justice technical assistance (800) 514-0301 voice • ESF #6 Template for Mass Care and Human • Services • Call me

  38. Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEM Iowa Department of Public Health 321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075 Karin.Ford@idph.iowa.gov 515-242-6336

More Related