Abstract

The Law, Health Policy & Disability Center (LHPDC) provides a neutral forum, open to diverse opinion, for assessing the impact of communications, technologies and disability public policies. See http://disability.law.uiowa.edu. This webcast bridges two of the Program's areas of inquiry: communications policy in disaster relief and mitigation, and disability policy.

Professor Blanck first explored the link between communications, disability policy, and disaster mitigation for persons with disabilities after the world learned of such disasters at Chernobyl and from Hurricane Andrew in Florida. In 1995, as a senior fellow for the Annenberg Washington Program, Blanck published the Annenberg Report "Disaster Mitigation for Persons with Disabilities: Fostering a New Dialogue." This report was done in collaboration with the American Red Cross and the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

This webcase is to continue the dialogue about using accessible communications technology and disability policy to save lives and reduce human suffering in the face of disasters throughout the world, and to engage people with disabilities in this dialogue. In a timely article, Al Hunt wrote in the Wall Street Journal on October 18, 2001 (at A27): "[After the 9-11 tragedy], the disability community should be involved in crafting better emergency procedures, including for evacuating tall buildings. ... As the nation braces for strengthened security, there are big concerns for the disabled."

This webcast is meant to stimulate discussion of these issues and search for answers to problems. Based on discussions with many people after the 9-11 tragedy, the topic requires broader dialogue, research, and dissemination of information to address issues of policy and disaster relief for persons with disabilities.

Joining Dr. Blanck will be James Schmeling from LHPDC, Elizabeth Davis from NOD, and Alan Dinsmore from AFB. The research supporting this webcast was conducted with the generous support of the Milbank Foundation for Rehabilitation through a grant to the Law, Health Policy & Disability Center at the University of Iowa College of Law.