DISABILITY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES: Louisiana

GOVERNOR: Kathleen Blanco

Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council: The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council is a planning and advocacy body created by Congress.The mission of the Council is to assure that all persons with developmental disabilities receive the best services, the most appropriate assistance, and the opportunities necessary to enable them to achieve their maximum potential through increased self determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion.

STATE EMA: Consult and contact your State EMA for information on Emergency Management specific to your state.

LOCAL EMA: Consult and contact your local EMA for information on Emergency Management specific to your location with your parish.

Louisiana CITIZEN CORPS: The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds. Contact your local Citizen Corps to see how you can become involved.

Louisiana American Red Cross: The American Red Cross offers many disaster preparedness, volunteer and donation services. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for information on these services.

Louisiana Protection & Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program: The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) comprise the nationwide network of congressionally mandated, legally based disability rights agencies. P&A agencies have the authority to provide legal representation and other advocacy services, under all federal and state laws, to all people with disabilities (based on a system of priorities for services).

Louisiana Directory of ILCs and SILCs: Centers for independent living (CILs) are private, nonprofit corporations that provide services to maximize the independence of individuals with disabilities and the accessibility of the communities they live in.

Louisiana is part of FEMA Region VI: FEMA provides pre-disaster and post-disaster assistance to minimize the loss of life, and reduce damage and economic loss from natural and technological hazards. In both pre-disaster and post-disaster efforts, FEMA works in close partnership with State emergency management agencies.

Louisiana is part of the ADA & IT Technical Assistance Centers Region 6: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has established ten regional centers to provide information, training, and technical assistance to employers, people with disabilities, and other entities with responsibilities under the ADA. The centers act as a "one-stop" central, comprehensive resource on ADA issues in employment, public services, public accommodations, and communications. Each center works closely with local business, disability, governmental, rehabilitation, and other professional networks to provide ADA information and assistance. Programs vary in each region, but all centers provide the following: Technical Assistance, Education and Training, Materials Dissemination, Information and Referral, Public Awareness, Local Capacity Building.