Integrating Functional Needs Support Services into Emergency Preparedness: Deaf Community

1. Integrating Functional Needs Support Services into Emergency Preparedness: Deaf Community Panel June 21, 2012

2. Beca Bailey, B.S.Deaf SpecialistB.Bailey@ACDHH.az.gov(480)b 264-0189 VP(602) 542-3323 Voice www.acdhh.org

3. Functional Needs Support Services • Full and equal services • Function independently with assistance • Communication assistance and services • Auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication • Assistance with communicating daily!

4. Commonly Held Myths • All people with hearing loss read lips • All people who are D/deaf use American Sign Language • Hearing aids make Deaf people hearing • Cochlear implants work the same as hearing aids • Deaf people cannot speak • Anyone who knows sign language can interpret

5. Understanding Hearing Loss • Over 700,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Arizona • Approximately - 20,000 are Culturally Deaf. Noise and confusion of emergencies further diminish hearing

6. Deaf • Severe to profound hearing loss from birth or very early age • Use American Sign Language (ASL) or other signed languages; spoken language is second language • Cultural identity, not disability

7. Identifying People who are Deaf • Signing • Pointing to ears, shaking head • Hearing aid/cochlear implant • Asking for frequent repetition • Lack of response/inappropriate response • Intently watching speaker’s face

8. Barriers to Communication • Few emergency responders understand signed languages • Few interpreters available during emergency or disaster • Noise from event (sirens, explosions) • Distance from person speaking • Visual obstructions (smoke, dust, dark) • Visual distractions (flashing lights, commotion, sunlight)

9. Communication Strategies • Speak Appropriately • Clearly • Not too fast • Volume usually does not help • Lip Reading • Speech reading cannot be relied on • Only 30-35% of English language is visible on the lips

10. Gesturing • Common Gestures • Nod head up & down • Shake head back & forth • Place index finger on mouth • Point

11. Tips for Communication with Consumer Community • Get the person’s attention (tap on shoulder, wave hands, etc) • Convey concern (notes, gestures, etc) Say or write things such as: Stay calm; or I am here to help • Communicate with a plan – (let them know what needs to happen) • Provide physical or visual guidance as needed

12. Communication: Understanding Consumers • Many consumers speak clearly and are easily understood • Don’t assume someone who speaks will understand what is being said • Easier to understand them than they will understand what is said • With consumers who don’t use their voice, gestures can be used to communicate

13. Accommodations • AZ Licensed Sign Language Interpreters • Captioning • Paper/Pen/White Board • UbiDuo

14. Telecommunications Technologies • Text pagers • Email & instant messaging • Videophones • TTY/TDD

15. Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) • Video relay services – live interpreter through computer • Traditional relay – TTY • IP relay – Internet • Captioned telephones – voice for themselves, read what other person says

16. Emergency Notification • Text alerts to pagers/PDA/text-enabled cell phones • “Call out” phone system, TTY compatible • Visual information on TV (text, interpreter, real time) • Visual alarms (NOAA radio, strobe alarms) • Highway electronic boards • TTY Hotline

17. Scenario Discussions - Firefighters • Firefighters A Deaf person is in a car accident and the firefighter has to roll you over to put you on a stretcher, but will first secure your head so it won’t move – How can the firefighter tell you this information?

18. Scenario Discussions - EMS • EMS A person falls down the stairs trying to get out of the house when there is a kitchen fire. You are unconscious and your Deaf husband/wife is there with you. EMS needs to know if you have any allergies to medicine? How can this be asked and answered?

19. Scenario Discussions – Police • Law Enforcement Your town is gong to be hit by a hurricane. Everyone is ordered to evacuate to a different city. You are driving down the road and there is a road block. Police officers are stopping each car to let them know that the road is closed and you must take another route. How can the officer give you the new directions?

20. Differences between Emergency Responders and Consumers • Emergency Responders • Overriding priority is life safety over communication; act now, explain later. • Deaf/HOH Consumers • May be skeptical of authority without an explanation of what is going on • Often place overriding priority on communication

21. Working Together • Together consumers and responders can: • Find out what notification systems are currently available • Discuss what works best for the community • Have public meetings • Participate in planning or advisory committees • Involve consumers in drill and exercises to assess the effectiveness of communication • AND so many more…

22. Resources • Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) – www.cepintdi.org • Emergency Responder Video - http://www.cepintdi.org/being-prepared/emergency-responder-video • Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing – www.acdhh.org