Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning a Goal of the Disability Preparedness Center

The Disability Preparedness Center, Washington DC, was chosen by the National Capital Region to incorporate new emergency preparednesss planning for individuals with disabilities in the region's preparedness efforts.

Washington DC (PRWEB) January 26, 2005 -- The Disability Preparedness Center was chosen by the National Capital Region (NCR) to incorporate new emergency preparedness planning for individuals with disabilities and other special needs in the regions preparedness efforts. Funds for this project have been provided by the NCR through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Grant: Fiscal Year 2004 Urban Areas Security Initiative.

A Harris Interactive survey published in January 2004 indicates that more than two years after the terrorist attacks focused national attention on the importance of planning ahead for disasters, Americans with disabilities remain insufficiently prepared and are anxious about their safety," according to Dr. Carl T. Cameron, president of the not-for-profit Disability Preparedness Center (www.disabilitypreparedness.org). Experience has shown that emergency preparedness planning usually gives inadequate attention to people with disabilities, despite the good will of first responders, planners and responsible public officials. There is an estimated 400,000 to 900,000 people in the NCR who have a disability, with nearly 20% of these individuals with serious disabilities.

Some people with disabilities will be more vulnerable than a non-disabled person in a n emergency," Dr. Carl T. Cameron said. To be fully included, they need to be included in the planning process as well. By bringing people with disabilities into the planning process, our goal is to include everyone into learning how they can be better prepared, and what they can do themselves, to feel less anxious and more empowered."

Major activities that will be undertaken in the project include providing technical assistance and skills development to first responders to assist in including individuals with disabilities and the development of a training to assist persons with disabilities to effectively participate, the establishment of an NCR Disability Advisory Committee, and a regional conference.

Carl T. Cameron, Ph.D. is president of the Disability Preparedness Center in Washington DC, a not-for-profit organization focused on helping ensure that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection from both natural and man-made emergencies.

In almost all cases, emergency planning, including evacuations and sheltering during natural disasters, attacks of terrorism, industrial and highway accidents has not taken into consideration the communication, transportation and medical needs of persons with disabilities, and other special populations.

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