Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities:
An Interagency Seminar of Exchange
for Federal Managers

Summary Report

Recognizing the need to bring federal managers, emergency management decision-makers, and disability program managers together, the Office of Disability Employment Policy hosted the first of its kind Seminar of Exchange on the topic of emergency preparedness and people with disabilities. Participants included over 200 representatives from 90 Federal agencies and offices. Nationally recognized experts informed and facilitated the exchange of insights.

The seminar revealed four prevailing themes:

• The importance of timely and accurate communication that is accessible and includes all employees, including people with disabilities;
• The necessity for support and commitment from senior-level management within an agency;
• A flexible process that combines clear guidelines for the general workforce while being customizable to meet the unique circumstances of an individual with a disability is key; and
• Rigorous and regular practice of the plan is essential, providing opportunities to evaluate procedures and keeping the issue in the minds of agency managers and employees.

Text version of the report
PDF version of the report
Video Highlights