Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

For Emergency Management and First Responders | Communication with and about Persons with Disabilities (Including Service Providers) | For Persons with Disabilities

For Emergency Management and First Responders

Disabled People and Disaster Planning. (n.d.). Managing shelters. Retrieved from http://www.citycent.com/dp2/shelters.htm 

This tip sheet recommends methods shelter staff can use to make services more accessible to all individuals. Recommendations include supplies needed, training suggestions for staff, and resources that shelters should have available.

Farrell, A. F. & Crimmins, D. (2007). Coping with disaster: Helping children with cognitive disabilities. Impact, 20(1), 14—15. Retrieved from http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/201/over9.html 

This article reviews the unique post-disaster needs of children with cognitive disabilities. The article highlights common reactions of children at various developmental stages, as well as general strategies to promote coping.

Hodge, J. G., Rutkow, L., & Corcoran, A. J. (2010, September–October). Mental and behavioral health legal preparedness in major emergencies. Public Health Reports, 125(5), 759–762. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2925016

This article provides an assessment of the U.S. legal environment underlying the identification, accommodation, response, and treatment of mental illnesses and behavioral conditions before, during, and after major emergencies.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement. (n.d.). Disaster preparedness tips for emergency management personnel: Communication access for people with limited speech. Retrieved from http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/images/file/DPFirst%20respondersv_ 8for%20printing.pdf [PDF - 28 Kb] 

This checklist and tip sheet provides general steps that emergency responders should take to prepare to meet the needs of individuals with limited speech. The tip sheet reviews different methods of augmentative and alternative communication, including speech generating devices and personal communication displays.

U.S. Department of Education. (2008).Emergency management research and people with disabilities: A resource guide. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/guide-emergency- management-pwd.pdf [PDF - 27 Kb]

This resource guide reviews research projects and recommendations stemming from conferences on emergency management and disability. These recommendations provide guidance for emergency response and highlight the knowledge gaps and areas needing further study.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2007). Building bridges: Mental health consumers and representatives of the disaster response community in dialogue (HHS Publication No. SMA07-4250). Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA07-4250/SMA07-4250.pdf [PDF - 212.3 KB]

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration hosted a roundtable meeting to bring together mental health consumers, policymakers, providers, and others involved in the disaster response community. The meeting was held August 9 to 10, 2006, in Washington, DC. This report summarizes the meeting and the recommendations that emerged from the dialogue.

U.S. Department of Justice. (2008). An ADA guide for local governments: Making community emergency preparedness and response programs accessible to people with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm

This guide provides recommendations for local governments and agencies to use in making disaster response accessible to people with disabilities. The guide provides tips for planning, notification, and evacuation. The guide also provides recommendations for creating accessible shelters and training staff to deal with service animals, medications, and communication.

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Communication with and about Persons with Disabilities (Including Service Providers)

Disabled People and Disaster Planning. (n.d.). Communications after a disaster. Retrieved from http://www.citycent.com/dp2/communications.htm 

This tip sheet provides recommendations for making post-disaster media communication accessible to all persons. Recommendations address television and radio announcements, as well as additional methods of communicating with the public.

U.S. Department of Education. (2008). Emergency management research and people with disabilities: A resource guide. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/guide-emergency- management-pwd.pdf [PDF - 27 Kb] 

This guide features information on resources, policies, and specific care needs for people with disabilities, disaster personnel, and government officials. This information provides beneficial insights for pre- and post-disaster activities.

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For Persons with Disabilities

Kahn, L. & Pearpoint, J. (2007). Personal emergency preparedness: Who are your people?Impact, 20(1), 8—9. Retrieved from http://www.ici.umn.edu/products/impact/201/over6.html 

This article emphasizes the essential role relationships play in personal emergency preparedness. The authors review how personal networks can assist in disaster recovery, the role of neighbors, and the benefits of strengthening neighborhood connections.

E-Michigan Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. (2008). Emergency and disaster preparedness. Retrieved from http://www.michdhh.org/emergency_response/index.html 

This website serves as an emergency preparedness guide for people who are deaf or hard of hearing in Michigan. Included are American Sign Language videos, information on emergency communication systems, and explanation of the importance of emergency supply kits and personal emergency plans.

National Organization on Disability. (2009). Disaster readiness tips for people with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.nod.org/assets/downloads/Readiness-Tips-Disabilities.pdf [PDF 212 Kb] 

This pamphlet provides useful recommendations on how to ensure a state of personal readiness for people with disabilities.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2011). Individuals with access and functional needs. At Ready.gov [Website]. Retrieved from http://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs

This website was developed by the Department of Homeland Security in consultation with AARP, the American Red Cross, and the National Organization on Disability. It provides recommendations for creating an emergency supply kit for people with disabilities.

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