Now Available in English to support persons with disabilities affected by the Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake DPI-Japan, JIL, Yumekaze Foundation and other disability organizations have established “Relief Headquarters for Persons with Disabilities of Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake”. This blog is now available in English and is providing updates from the "Relief Headquarters for Persons with Disabilities of Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake". This headquarters is organized by persons with disabilities to support persons with disabilities affected by the great earthquake.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Relief Headquarters Website for Persons with Disabilities of Japan’s Tohoku-Kanto Great Earthquake
Monday, March 21, 2011
FCC National Survey - People with Disabilities and Calling 911
Friends -
There is a national survey being conducted by the Emergency Access Advisory Committee of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to see how individuals with disabilities want to call 9-1-1 in the future when they can use the Internet to send pictures, video, texts, as well as voice telephone calls. This is an important accessibility objective! When you need to call for help, how will you call 9-1-1? Let the FCC and the Advisory Committee know! This survey will be available until April 24, 2011.
To learn more about this Advisory Committee and the survey, go online to: www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/.
To learn more about this Advisory Committee and the survey, go online to: www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/EAAC/.
To take the emergency access NG911 national survey NOW, click on one of the options below:
English and American Sign Language (ASL): http://fcc.eaac.sgizmo.com/s3.
Acesso la Encuestra en Espanol: http://fcc.eaac-es.sgizmo.com/s3 .
Cheryl King
Cheryl.King@fcc.gov
Friday, March 18, 2011
Fire Safety Resources for People with Disabilities from the Inclusion Preparedness Center
The Inclusive Preparedness Center (IPC) for five years has worked to develop technical assistance and planning materials to be used by trusted community organizations to teach disaster readiness practices to people who are served by the organizations. This national project of the IPC, Residential Fire Safety Planning for Difficult to Reach Residents (RFSP), provides training and planning materials to local fire service agencies and partner community organizations to increase installation and testing of smoke alarms in high fire-risk residences, and initiate more effective smoke and fire safety planning by the individuals and families living in those residences. The materials and a training webinar are available through this website.
http://www.firesafetyplanner.org/
http://www.firesafetyplanner.org/
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The White House Celebrates Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
The White House Blog
The White House Celebrates Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/11/white-house-celebrates-emergency-preparedness-people-disabilities
Monday, March 14, 2011
Earthquake Preparedness in Japan
How many Americans, apart from residents of the West Coast, feel any need for earthquake preparedness? Probably not enough of us. Japan lies at the juncture of major tectonic plates and all residents are schooled in preparedness. That was not enough to overcome the devastation of earthquake and tsunami, but it could have been worse.
Kirk Spitzer, a former co-worker, is an award-winning journalist who has covered several major wars. In recent days he has been using his blog to do what he does best -- tell us the story. He was at home when the recent earthquake struck Japan. Home is on the 57th floor of a building in Tokyo. Read about his experience and the level of preparation expected of all Japanese citizens at this link:
http://web.me.com/kirksp123
In Japan, A Culture Of Being Prepared
-- Trish Redmon
Kirk Spitzer, a former co-worker, is an award-winning journalist who has covered several major wars. In recent days he has been using his blog to do what he does best -- tell us the story. He was at home when the recent earthquake struck Japan. Home is on the 57th floor of a building in Tokyo. Read about his experience and the level of preparation expected of all Japanese citizens at this link:
http://web.me.com/kirksp123
In Japan, A Culture Of Being Prepared
-- Trish Redmon
Monday, March 7, 2011
California Department of Developmental Services Webpage “Feeling Safe, Being Safe”
Emergency Preparation
California Department of Developmental Services Webpage “Feeling Safe, Being Safe”
http://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/fsbs/index.cfm
Webcasts, videos and materials concerning emergency preparation for people with disabilities.
http://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/fsbs/index.cfm
Webcasts, videos and materials concerning emergency preparation for people with disabilities.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Federal Court Finds City of Los Angeles Discriminates Against People with Disabilities in Emergency Plans
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2011
CONTACTS:
Sid Wolinsky, Disability Rights Advocates – 510- 665- 8644
Karla Gilbride, Disability Rights Advocates – 510- 665- 8644
Shawna Parks, Disability Rights Legal Center –213- 736-1477
Joseph Sorrentino, Disability Rights Legal Center – 213-736-8307
FEDERAL COURT FINDS CITY OF LOS ANGELES DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN EMERGENCY PLANS
Los Angeles – In a landmark decision, which has national implications, a federal court ruled today that the City of Los Angeles violated federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, by failing to meet the needs of its residents with disabilities in planning for natural and other disasters. The ruling is the first such decision in the country.
Federal Judge Consuelo B. Marshall held: “[T]he Court finds that Plaintiffs are denied the benefits of the City's emergency preparedness program because the City's practice of failing to address the needs of individuals with disabilities discriminates against such individuals by denying them meaningful access to the City's emergency preparedness program." The Court further held that “Because of the City’s failure to address their unique needs, individuals with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to harm in the event of an emergency or disaster.” The Court ordered the City within 3 weeks to meet with the plaintiffs to prepare a proposal for remedying the violations.
The Plaintiffs are represented by two prominent non-profit law firms that specialize in civil rights cases for people with disabilities: Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”), headquartered in Berkeley, California and Disability Rights Legal Center (“DRLC”), located in Los Angeles.
The federal class action lawsuit, brought on behalf of all people with disabilities in Los Angeles, was filed in January 2009 by Plaintiffs Audrey Harthorn and Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (“CALIF”), a nonprofit independent living center located in downtown Los Angeles.
Despite the fact that Los Angeles has experienced serious disasters, the City of Los Angeles lacks adequate disaster planning for people with disabilities, such as accessible emergency shelters, plans for providing services and medication at shelters, accessible transportation and evacuation assistance as well as communication services that are available and accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.
Los Angeles is particularly disaster-prone and susceptible to a variety of emergencies, including earthquakes, fires, landslides, and terrorist attacks. The City experienced and suffered from the massive Northridge earthquake in 1994, as well as wildfires in 2008 and 2009.
Today’s landmark ruling highlights a national problem evident during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when people with disabilities, including many seniors who were seriously ill , were left behind to die because of a lack of disability planning. Those tragedies prompted this action on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles.
Karla Gilbride, a DRA Attorney representing the plaintiffs said, “We are pleased with the Judge’s decision to ensure that L.A., which is home to more than half a million people with disabilities, plans for the safety of all of its residents.”
Sid Wolinsky, DRA Litigation Director said, “We cannot tolerate another Katrina when disabled men, women and children were neglected. DRA and DRLC have worked with other cities such as Oakland and Richmond to develop emergency plans that include people with disabilities. There is no reason why every city in this country should not be well prepared to meet the needs of disabled people.”
“The Court’s decision is not just a victory for people with disabilities and seniors but for all Los Angeles residents who need to know that our city is prepared when disaster strikes. These will be life and death issues for thousands of people with disabilities in the event of a major disaster,” stated Shawna L. Parks, DRLC’s Legal Director also representing the Plaintiffs. “We are hopeful that other cities will examine their emergency preparations as a result of this lawsuit to avoid the needless loss of life during any future emergencies.”
Audrey Harthorn, Plaintiff and resident of Los Angeles said, “As a wheelchair user who lives alone, I am relieved that L.A. will now consider the needs of its citizens with disabilities and that I will have a better chance of getting the help I need when the next disaster strikes.”
Lilibeth Navarro, Executive Director of CALIF says “This is society’s moral duty to people with disabilities. The Court’s decision confirms what we already knew, that the City has failed to address the needs of people with disabilities in emergency planning. The City must now take action to address this critical issue.”
The court’s decision can be found at:
www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org
www.dralegal.orgwww.dralegal.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2011
CONTACTS:
Sid Wolinsky, Disability Rights Advocates – 510- 665- 8644
Karla Gilbride, Disability Rights Advocates – 510- 665- 8644
Shawna Parks, Disability Rights Legal Center –213- 736-1477
Joseph Sorrentino, Disability Rights Legal Center – 213-736-8307
FEDERAL COURT FINDS CITY OF LOS ANGELES DISCRIMINATES AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN EMERGENCY PLANS
Los Angeles – In a landmark decision, which has national implications, a federal court ruled today that the City of Los Angeles violated federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, by failing to meet the needs of its residents with disabilities in planning for natural and other disasters. The ruling is the first such decision in the country.
Federal Judge Consuelo B. Marshall held: “[T]he Court finds that Plaintiffs are denied the benefits of the City's emergency preparedness program because the City's practice of failing to address the needs of individuals with disabilities discriminates against such individuals by denying them meaningful access to the City's emergency preparedness program." The Court further held that “Because of the City’s failure to address their unique needs, individuals with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to harm in the event of an emergency or disaster.” The Court ordered the City within 3 weeks to meet with the plaintiffs to prepare a proposal for remedying the violations.
The Plaintiffs are represented by two prominent non-profit law firms that specialize in civil rights cases for people with disabilities: Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”), headquartered in Berkeley, California and Disability Rights Legal Center (“DRLC”), located in Los Angeles.
The federal class action lawsuit, brought on behalf of all people with disabilities in Los Angeles, was filed in January 2009 by Plaintiffs Audrey Harthorn and Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (“CALIF”), a nonprofit independent living center located in downtown Los Angeles.
Despite the fact that Los Angeles has experienced serious disasters, the City of Los Angeles lacks adequate disaster planning for people with disabilities, such as accessible emergency shelters, plans for providing services and medication at shelters, accessible transportation and evacuation assistance as well as communication services that are available and accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.
Los Angeles is particularly disaster-prone and susceptible to a variety of emergencies, including earthquakes, fires, landslides, and terrorist attacks. The City experienced and suffered from the massive Northridge earthquake in 1994, as well as wildfires in 2008 and 2009.
Today’s landmark ruling highlights a national problem evident during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when people with disabilities, including many seniors who were seriously ill , were left behind to die because of a lack of disability planning. Those tragedies prompted this action on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles.
Karla Gilbride, a DRA Attorney representing the plaintiffs said, “We are pleased with the Judge’s decision to ensure that L.A., which is home to more than half a million people with disabilities, plans for the safety of all of its residents.”
Sid Wolinsky, DRA Litigation Director said, “We cannot tolerate another Katrina when disabled men, women and children were neglected. DRA and DRLC have worked with other cities such as Oakland and Richmond to develop emergency plans that include people with disabilities. There is no reason why every city in this country should not be well prepared to meet the needs of disabled people.”
“The Court’s decision is not just a victory for people with disabilities and seniors but for all Los Angeles residents who need to know that our city is prepared when disaster strikes. These will be life and death issues for thousands of people with disabilities in the event of a major disaster,” stated Shawna L. Parks, DRLC’s Legal Director also representing the Plaintiffs. “We are hopeful that other cities will examine their emergency preparations as a result of this lawsuit to avoid the needless loss of life during any future emergencies.”
Audrey Harthorn, Plaintiff and resident of Los Angeles said, “As a wheelchair user who lives alone, I am relieved that L.A. will now consider the needs of its citizens with disabilities and that I will have a better chance of getting the help I need when the next disaster strikes.”
Lilibeth Navarro, Executive Director of CALIF says “This is society’s moral duty to people with disabilities. The Court’s decision confirms what we already knew, that the City has failed to address the needs of people with disabilities in emergency planning. The City must now take action to address this critical issue.”
The court’s decision can be found at:
www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org
www.dralegal.orgwww.dralegal.org/
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