11 April 2008
Meeting the Needs of Persons with Disabilities During Disasters
Over time, new implications and applications for the Americans with Disabilities Act have emerged. The act addresses nondiscrimination with regard to public services and public facilities, but does not specifically mention natural disasters or other emergency situations. The implications for these situations, however, have become evident, especially as more focus has been placed on emergency preparedness in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and numerous natural disasters. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Council on Disability have issued recommendations on emergency preparation. Congress and individual states have written legislation to address these needs. In July 2004, President George W. Bush established the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities.
The purpose of the council is to:
- consider, in their emergency preparedness planning, the unique needs of agency employees with disabilities and individuals with disabilities whom the agency serves;
- encourage, including through the provision of technical assistance, consideration of the unique needs of employees and individuals with disabilities served by state, local, and tribal governments, private organizations, and individuals in emergency preparedness planning;
- facilitate cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal governments, private organizations, and individuals in the implementation of emergency preparedness plans as they relate to individuals with disabilities.
In April 2006, Daniel W. Sutherland, chair of the Interagency Coordinating Council, spoke to attendees at the National Hurricane Conference on how to integrate individuals with disabilities into the emergency management process. Learning lessons from the hurricanes of 2005, he said:
The needs and talents of people with disabilities must be more effectively integrated throughout the emergency management process. While all Americans face difficulties during emergencies, these difficulties are often compounded for people with disabilities and their families. This is not a "niche" issue, worthy of a footnote or two as we discuss the lessons learned from [Hurricane] Katrina. … [T]he disability community constituted approximately 20 percent of the people who lived in the Gulf Coast region. These are complex issues, affecting a large number of people, and we must do a more effective job in addressing them. … We recognize that state and local governments are the primary first responders in a disaster. … Our role and responsibility is not to add new burdens to your work, but to identify ways that we can help you effectively deal with the complex and unique issues in this arena. … People with disabilities do not want to be passive consumers of help. Rather, people with disabilities have a tremendous amount to offer because they bring a unique blend of energy, experience, ideas, and determination to these issues. People with disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them want to help; all you have to do is enlist them in the service.
The full text of Sutherland's remarks can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0842.shtm.
