The Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network (DDN) was established to provide leadership for implementation of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance
and Bill of Rights Act.
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People with disabilities and their families are
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and evaluate our activities.
We also rely on a broad range of professionals, organizations and agencies
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Developmental Disabilities Network
Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Overview
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many people were left wondering how they would do in the event of a disaster. This concern is especially relevant for people with disabilities. Officials in Louisiana say many of the more than one thousand of those who died as a result of Hurricane Katrina were people with disabilities. Connecticut residents with disabilities need to know what they can do and what they can expect from their town and state governments to prevent such a tragedy from happening here. The University of Connecticut AJ Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service has put together this website of resources and information to assist people with disabilities and emergency planners.
On December 6, 2005, the Developmental Disabilities Network hosted “Lessons Learned: A Forum on Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities.” Nearly 200 emergency planners, first responders, service providers, and people with disabilities attended the all-day event held at Northeast Utilities in Berlin, Connecticut. The agenda included Marcie Roth, Executive Director/CEO of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association, who became involved in emergency preparedness nationally after September 11, 2001. Marcie shared the lessons she has learned over the last four years, including experiences with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A panel presentation was also given on Connecticut’s Disaster Plan. The panelists included Commissioner James Thomas, Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; Mario Bruno, Connecticut Red Cross; Stephen Thal, Capital Region Emergency Planning Committee; and Therese Nadeau, A.J. Pappanikou Center on Disabilities, UConn Health Center. Sandee Winchell, Director of the Louisiana Council on Developmental Disabilities, spoke about her agency’s struggles to find and assist people with disabilities in Louisiana after Katrina and Rita. Participants were then grouped according to region and were asked to discuss disaster preparedness for people with disabilities in their towns and regions. Topics for small group discussion were communications, personal assistance, food and water, health and medication, shelter, transportation, utilities, and mental health.
New Training Opportunity for Emergency Planners and First Responders
Emergency Preparedness and Response for People with Disabilities
The UConn Center on Disabilities is pleased to offer this new training to planners and first responders across Connecticut. The training, which addresses issues including registries, evacuation tips and techniques, shelter considerations, and more, is now available statewide. Click on the link above or contact Jessica Jagger to learn more.
New Publication:
A Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning (PDF)
This guide is primarily intended to assist people involved in preparedness planning at the municipal and regional levels. It also contains information that will be useful to individuals with disabilities and families. It was developed by the Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network.
To request the Guide in another format, click here.
To hear what the presenters at the December 6 forum had to say and to learn from their experiences, click on the links below.
Presentations from “Lessons Learned: A Forum on Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities”
- To view the forum courtesy of CT-N, click here
- PowerPoint Presentation by Sandee Winchell, Executive Director, Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
- PowerPoint Presentation by Commissioner James Thomas, CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
The resources listed here will help people with disabilities prepare for an emergency. They will also be useful to emergency planners interested in learning more about some of the needs people with disabilities may have in a disaster.
The Vial of Life Project
The Vial of Life Project began as an effort to make senior citizens’ medical information available on the scene to first responders. The Vial of Life is a form designed to provide critical information about your health and safety needs in case you are unable to do so. The forms are completed and placed in a safe place; many people place them in a visible spot in the refrigerator. Decals can be downloaded for free or ordered from the Vial of Life website and can be displayed on doors or windows to let first responders know where to look for the form.
To view the Vial of Life, click here.
Disability Specific Disaster Preparedness Inventory
Developed by the UConn Center on Disabilities, this inventory is designed to supplement and be kept with the Vial of Life Project form. This Inventory is designed specifically for people with disabilities and includes questions about service animals, assistive technology/adaptive equipment, personal assistance needs, and more.
To view the Disability Specific Disaster Information Inventory, click here.
Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Plans: Important Considerations
Developed by the DD Network, this list consists of several topics for municipalities or agencies to consider when developing disaster response plans.
To view Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Plans: Important Considerations, click here.
Disaster Planning Organizations & Government Agencies
Resource: State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Website: http://www.ct.gov/demhs/
Resource: Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Author: American Red Cross
Website: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/disability.pdf
Resource: Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Author: FEMA
Website: http://www.fema.gov/library/disprepf.shtm
Resource: Disability Preparedness - Personal Preparedness Planning
Author: Homeland Security: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Website: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0665.xml
Resource: An ADA Guide of Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities
Author: U.S. Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division
Website: http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprep.htm
Disability Related Organizations
Resource: Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety
Author: The Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions
Website: http://www.cdihp.org
Resource: Protecting Your Service Dog In An Emergency
Author: Disability Central
Website: http://www.disabilitycentral.com/activteen/magazine/doc_stein/docs_dispatch.htm
Resource: Emergency Preparedness At Home for People with Disabilities
Author: Disability Preparedness Center
Website: http://www.disabilitypreparedness.org
Resource: Emergency and Disaster Relief and Preparedness for People with Disabilities Partnered with Assistance Dogs
Author: IAADP: International Association of Assistance Dog Partners
Website: http://www.iaadp.org/disaster.html
Resource: Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning
Author: National Council on Disability
Website: http://www/ncd.gov
Resource: Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips For People with Disabilities
Author: National Organization on Disability
Website: http://www.nod.org
Resource: Facts Sheets on Disaster Preparedness for People With Disabilities
Author: PrepareNow.org
Website: http://www.preparenow.org/prepare.html
Additional Information for Emergency Managers, Planners and First Responders
Resource: Tips for First Responders
Author: Center for Development and Disability
Website: Website: http://cdd.unm.edu/products/TipsForFirstResponders.htm
Resource: Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Communication Access
Author: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network
Website: http://www.nad.org
Resource: Assisting People with Disabilities in a Disaster
Author: FEMA: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Website: http://www.fema.gov/rrr/assistf.shtm
Resource: Disability Preparedness - Emergency Managers, Responders, Service & Care Providers
Author: Homeland Security: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Website: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0687.xml
Resource: EPI Guide for Emergency Managers, Planners & Responders Revised Edition
Author: National Organization on Disability
Website: http://www.nod.org
Early Childhood initiatives at the UCEDD focus on evidenced based practices and learning outcomes. We provide training and technical assistance to early interventionists, teachers, therapists, service coordinators, policy makers and families on a variety of areas including social competence, early literacy, early childhood outcomes, service coordination practices, and evidenced based intervention practices.
School Age initiatives at the UCEDD focus on the inclusion of children with disabilities in typical school and community life. We provide training and technical assistance to families, school personnel and community members in a variety of areas including the special education process, inclusive education, adapted curriculum, assistive technology, disability awareness and person-centered planning.
Adult initiatives at the UCEDD focus on including people with disabilities in their communities. We provide training and technical assistance to individuals with disabilities, state agencies, service providers and other community members in a variety of areas including the hiring of personal assistants, accessible transportation, emergency preparedness and response, and health care.