New Horizons Un-Limited Inc. New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.
Access Board ADA Accessibility Guidelines specifies the required number of accessible means of egress required in the design of accessible routes and provides the technical criteria. Emergency warning systems to alert people with hearing impairments are also covered. Specifications for fire-rated spaces where persons unable to use stairs can await evacuation assistance are also required.
American Red Cross has developed a comprehensive guide entitled Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities. This guide, provided on their website free of charge, has been written to assist those with physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities prepare for natural disasters and their consequences. It provides assessment exercises, checklists and tips on how to establish a support network. The American Red Cross will send an Education Services representative to your organization to speak to anyone free of charge about emergency and disaster preparedness. They also publish several pamphlets on Preparing for Emergencies, A Checklist for People with Mobility Problems, and Family Disaster or Emergency Preparedness. Contact your local American Red Cross office by visiting their website and typing in your zip code.
Building Officials Code Administrators (BOCA) International provides
Model Building Codes which include the design requirements for accessible egress and evacuation. Contact the BOCA at access@bocai.org.
Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions (CDIHP) at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, announces a new 36 page guide to help people with disabilities better prepare for large or small-scale emergencies. The Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your Safety, A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations helps people with disabilities take responsibility for their own safety during emergencies and evacuations and work effectively with first responders. This Guide is available at no cost from CDIHP, or to order a hard copy, send a check payable to: CDIHP for $24.00 (includes shipping, handling and applicable tax) to CDIHP, 309 E. 2nd Street, Pomona, CA 91766-1854, Contact CDIHP for pricing on bulk or international orders at Phone: (909) 469.5380, TTY (909) 469-5520, Fax: (909) 469-5407, Email: evac@westernu.edu
Disaster Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities provides resources on earthquake, fire, and disaster preparedness resources, barrier removal and evacuation procedures.
Disaster Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities are provided by Disability Resources.org.
Easter Seals Evacuation Planning Support created a national public education campaign, S.A.F.E.T.Y. first: Working Together for Safer Communities as a response to their growing national concern for personal safety. It's a set of key questions, resources and an excerpt from BOMA's, Are Your Tenant's Safe? that gives everyone a place to start. Their emphasis is on learning from specific solutions of people with disabilities and other special needs. Using the S.A.F.E.T.Y. first kit as a guide, the first step is for businesses to work directly with employees that have disabilities and special needs to develop a personal evacuation plan. As individual needs will vary, people with disabilities are best suited to identify their specific evacuation needs. Once identified, those needs can be integrated into existing evacuation plans — likely providing new insights and essential changes to existing plans. For more information on the S.A.F.E.T.Y. first kit, check out this website.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a great deal of information concerning disaster preparation and assistance. They also offer information on Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities and also offer specific suggestions on how to Assist People with Disabilities in a Disaster. For more information, visit the FEMA website or call (202) 566-1600.
Job Accommodation Network offers material on-line on evacuation planning at Emergency Preparedness.
National Center on Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities (NCEPPD) is 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.
This center provides training and other resources to help local emergency organizations plan for individuals who need specialized communications, transportation and medical supports in emergency situations.
National Fire Protection Association provides fire safety and evacuation planning. Contact the NFPA at Education@nfpa.org
National Organization on Disability provides links to resources and guides on disaster preparedness. Contact the NOD at ability@nod.org.
President's New Freedom Initiative Disability Direct website offers more information on emergency preparedness for employees with disabilities.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers questions and answers to assist employers who are developing or reevaluating emergency evacuation procedures. This will assist employers on requesting medical information as part of emergency evacuation procedures.
U.S. Fire Administration provides fire safety and evacuation planning.
State Access Codes provides links to state codes for the requirements for accessible egress and emergency alarms.
Community and Internet Resources / FAQ / Guides / Books / News Publications and Media / NHU Community Forum
|
Home / Disability News / NHU Quarterly Newsletter |
| Share Your Knowledge! / NHU Community Discussion Board / E-mail Us | |
| About NHU / Announcements and Features / Contribute / What's New? / Site Plan |