Businesses Must Include Employees with Disabilities When Preparing for Emergencies
The threat of emergencies - such as natural disasters, technological accidents and acts of terrorism - has directed important attention to emergency planning in the home and in the workplace. However, while significant strides have been made with regard to businesses' emergency preparedness, research and anecdotal evidence indicate that many plans overlook the needs and perspectives of people with disabilities.
The Federal government offers a range of free educational resources to help employers understand how to develop, implement and maintain a workplace emergency plan that considers the needs of all employees - including those with disabilities. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy's Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities Web Page (www.dol.gov/odep/programs/emergency.htm), or the Employment/Emergency Preparedness section of www.DisabilityInfo.gov.
