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

Community Based Emergency Response Seminar: Preparing for All Abilities Spring 2007. Communication Challenges Deaf Late-Deafened Hard of Hearing DeafBlind Speech-impaired. “Out of the Loop” on Emergency Preparedness Activities

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

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

  2. Communication ChallengesDeaf Late-Deafened Hard of HearingDeafBlind Speech-impaired “Out of the Loop” on Emergency Preparedness Activities • Need emergency information in both auditory and visual form • Need to be included in emergency planning activities

  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. Individual Preparedness Go Kits: Tailored to the Consumer’s 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. 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. Challenges with Evacuation • Advance information not always accessible / captioned • Adequate and Accessible Public Transportation • Announcements of available transportation modes

  7. Challenges with Shelters 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. 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. 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. Challenges with Evacuations What’s needed? • Accessible public information • Accessible public transportation • Not EVERYONE drives • Training of responders • Consumer involvement in planning and drills

  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. 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 “BEST PRACTICES Guide”

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

  15. -Afterwards - RECOVERY • 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

  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 www.deafhh.org

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