Emergency Preparedness-What Does That Mean For People With I/DD, Their Families, And Their Communities?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 3:00pm – 4:00 pm (ET)

https://www.aucd.org/template/event.cfm?event_id=3557&id=16

Emergency preparedness is an essential part of living for any individual or family. For those with intellectual disabilities, their families, or those providing support, however, emergency preparedness may require more specific plans of support. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a number of resources to prepare and support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities before, during, and after natural disasters. Of key importance is the implementation of self-determination practices in this area. One example of this implementation is the "Feeling Safe, Being Safe" training curriculum through which individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have become advocates and trainers in emergency preparedness.

Major Wireless Carriers Accelerate Availability of Text to 911

On December 6, 2012, the FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that the four major wireless carriers – AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile – have agreed to accelerate the availability of text-to-911, with major deployments expected in 2013 and a commitment to nationwide availability by May 15, 2014.  

Text-to-911 will provide consumers, including millions of consumers with hearing and speech disabilities, access to emergency services by enabling them to send a text message to 911.  This will also provide consumers with enhanced access to emergency communications in situations where a voice call could endanger the caller, or a person with disabilities is unable to make a voice call.  Text-to-911 will be available as an addition to, not a substitute for, voice calls to 911 services, and consumers should always make a voice call to 911 during an emergency if they can.

Links to the announcement:

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1207/DOC-317786A1.doc

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1207/DOC-317786A1.pdf

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1207/DOC-317786A1.txt

Online Toolkit Assists to Help Make Social Media Messages during Emergencies More Accessible

The online toolkit provides tips, resources and apps to help people with a disability to overcome accessibility challenges of social media. The kit also includes guidelines to assist the emergency sector, government, community, media and business to make social media messages more accessible.

http://emergency20wiki.org/wiki/index.php/Accessibility_Toolkit