Anticipated Results and Objectives

Disasters change lives forever. For the millions of Americans with disabilities, and millions of other persons with disabilities living around the world, surviving a disaster can be the beginning of a greater struggle. Whether an individual with a disability requires electricity to power a respirator, life sustaining medication, mobility assistance, or post-disaster recovery services, relief organizations and rescue personnel must be prepared to address the needs of that individual in the hours and days following a disaster.

As experts have recognized, preparation and planning is the key to mitigating the impact of both disasters and disabilities. Yet, as commentators like Al Hunt have recognized after the 9-11 tragedy, the efforts of the response and rescue, disaster relief and disability communities have all too often failed to intersect. The simple, often low cost steps that save lives and reduce damage in the face of disasters have often overlooked the needs of people with disabilities. Similarly, efforts to accommodate disabled Americans frequently ignore disaster preparedness and response. As a result, too few disaster response officials are trained to deal effectively with people with disabilities, and few disabled Americans have the knowledge that could help them save their own lives.

The present project will aid leaders and experts within the disability community, members of relief organizations, media professionals, industry leaders, and local, state, and federal officials to further establish a cooperative relationship to address these shortcomings. The challenges ahead will be overcome only by dialogue among these and other groups.

As Annenberg senior fellow Blanck has written, that dialogue must, at a minimum, identify key issues concerning the needs of people with disabilities when disasters strike, develop effective strategies for resolving those issues, and build relationships and delineate responsibilities among disaster mitigation organizations, the media, and disabilities organizations.

At least seven key principles should guide that dialogue, and they will be examined through the present project.

1. Accessible Disaster Facilities and Services. Communications technology is vital for people with disabilities during a disaster to help assess damage, collect information, and deploy supplies. Access to appropriate facilities must be monitored and made available to individuals with disabilities before, during, and after a disaster. This access also must be ensured for those who incur a disability as a result of a disaster. Appropriate planning and management of information related to architectural accessibility improves the provision of disaster services for persons with disabilities.

2. Accessible Communications and Assistance. As communications technology and policy become more integral to disaster relief and mitigation, providing accessibility to the technology for people with disabilities becomes essential. People with hearing impairments may require interpreters, TDD communications, and signaling devices. Materials must be produced and presented on the world wide web, cassette tape, in large print or in alternate formats for people with visual impairments. People with cognitive impairments, such as those with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, or brain injury, require assistance to become familiar and cope with new surroundings and to minimize confusion factors. It is crucial that people with disabilities help develop accessible communications and reliable assistance technologies.

3. Accessible, Effective and Reliable Rescue Communications. Accessible and reliable communications technology is critical to ensuring effective and competent field treatment of people with disabilities. Current satellite and cellular technology as well as personal communication networks permit communication in areas with a damaged or destroyed communication infrastructure. Communications technologies assist field personnel in rescue coordination, connect them with databases on optimal treatment for particular disabilities and help them track the allocation of post-disaster resources.

4. Partnerships with the Media. Disaster preparedness for people with disabilities is critical in minimizing the impact of a disaster. The media -- in partnership with disability and governmental organizations -- should incorporate advisories into emergency broadcasts in formats accessible to people with disabilities. Such advisories alert the public, provide a mechanism for informing rescue personnel of individual medical conditions and impairments, and identify accessible emergency shelters. The creation and repetition of accessible media messages is critical for empowering people with disabilities to protect themselves from disasters.

5. Partnerships with the Disability Community. Disability organizations must join with relief and rescue organizations and the media to educate and inform their constituents of disaster contingency and self-help plans. A nationwide awareness campaign should be devised and implemented to inform people with disabilities about necessary precautions for imminent disaster. In the event of a sudden disaster, such a program would minimize injury and facilitate rescue efforts.

6. Disaster Preparation, Education, and Training. Communications technologies are crucial for educating the public about disaster preparedness and warning the people likely to be affected. Relief and rescue operations must have the appropriate medical equipment and training to address the needs of people with disabilities. Training must be provided, particularly to volunteers on how to support the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities in the aftermath of a disaster.

7. Universal Design and Implementation Strategies. Designing and incorporating universal access into disaster relief plans is an inexpensive measure that can pay off handsomely. As accessible communications devices become widely available, their price will decrease. In addition, a universal design approach to meeting the needs of people with disabilities before and after a disaster will benefit people without disabilities, such as the very young or the aged. Examination of existing agreements among relief organizations and local, state, federal, and international governments will offer guidance in developing effective strategies for universal design and implementation plans.

The points identified in Blanck’s Annenberg report reflect an emerging consensus about how best to respond to the needs of people with disabilities before, during, and after a disaster. Additional dialogue, research, and information dissemination of the kind proposed are needed on communications technology and policy issues, not only for people with disabilities, but for all under-represented individuals in society -- the poor, the isolated, and the vulnerable. Working together, the disability community, disaster relief agencies, and the media along with local, state, and federal governments can help defend democracy by minimizing the high toll disasters exact.