There are several different types and models of evacuation chairs that can help you get down the stairs when an elevator is no longer working.  You’ll need to choose the one that you think will best meet your needs.  See http://www.evac-chair.com/ or http://www.garaventa.ca/ or http://www.lifeslider.com/Demonstration.html 

Nanopac, Inc. is a company that makes a number of different products for persons who are blind or visually impaired.  This includes a GPS trekker, a device that helps you find your location no matter where you are and Mobile Speak software that adapts to your cell phone, converting text into speech. 

You may need to light your house or the route to safety in the event of an emergency.  Prolite offers a range of autoglow products including signs, tape, paint and route markers that glow in the dark. These photoluminescent Wayfinding Systems store light and emit it when there is a power failure.  Prolite also offers Autopro, an electronic generator that automatically switches on when your power goes off.  It is small, portable and can be used anywhere.

The Preparedness Center offers a wide variety of products that could be helpful in preparing your emergency kit.  It includes food, products for storing and filtering water, first aid kits, supplies for cooking/heating, lighting and sanitation supplies.

Wynd Communciations makes a pager called WyndTell for people who are deaf or hearing impaired.  It allows users to send and receive e-mails and telephone messages through a relay system with a voice operator.  These pagers have tiny keyboards and can be used like a cell phone.
 

The American Association on Health and Disabilities (AAHD) offers a variety of resources for persons with disabilities and emergency planners including tips for preparing for different kinds of emergencies and a variety of resources for persons with different kinds of disabilities. 

The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools supported through the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services has developed a guide for schools to use in emergency planning for students with special needs.  The guide, Emergency Preparedness:  A Quick Guide for School Staff is available free of charge.  The Department of Education (DOE) also puts out a guide for schools, called Practical Information on Crisis Planning available on the DOE website. 

After the Northridge earthquake disaster of 1994, a group of concerned citizens formed Disabled People and Disaster Planning (DP2).  This is a California website that deals with issues of disability, access and emergency planning in the event of an earthquake.  The website also contains useful information for other situations as well. 

DisabiltyResources.org provides a number of links to web resources for disability preparedness. 

The Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association (DERA) was founded in 1962 to assist communities worldwide in disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and to serve as a professional association linking professionals, volunteers and organizations in all phases of emergency preparedness and management. 

Federal Emergency Planning Agency (FEMA) is a federal agency designed to manage and plan for emergencies nationwide.  Their website offers a variety of important information for planners on any number of topics related to emergency preparedness.  In addition, FEMA has a number of Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers. 

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is an independent, non-profit association founded in 1957 to respond to develop regional responses to such issues as the environment, affordable housing, economic development, health and family concerns, human services, population growth, public safety, and transportation. COG is a regional organization of Washington area local governments and is composed of 19 local governments surrounding our nation's capital, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. COG has organized a Task Force on Homeland Security and Emergency Response for the National Capitol Area and has information that may be helpful to local planners. 

The National Disaster Education Coalition is a coalition of federal agencies and national not-for-profit organizations that work together to develop and disseminate consistent educational information for the public about disaster preparedness.  Their website includes access to Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages (2004). 

The National Organization on Disability includes information on a wide range of topics including planning guides for persons with disabilities, checklists, articles, on-line and off-line resources. 

PrepareNow.org is a group from California that has accumulated information and resources on supporting the special needs of vulnerable populations in a variety of different disasters.  It includes a checklist for facility preparation & inventory of neighborhood resources and information on how to prepare for disaster for people with special medical needs. 

TODCO puts out an Earthquake Preparedness Video is a half hour video on earthquake preparedness focusing on individuals, neighborhood planning and vulnerable populations. The video comes with a Program Guide for public presentation and includes an emergency checklist and discussion guide.  It is available in several different languages and close-captioned.  For information contact: TODCO 230 4th St., San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 896-1981.
 

The Disability Preparedness Center offers technical assistance, half-day and full-day trainings to assist disability or emergency planning organizations to revise or prepare a emergency response plans that address the needs of persons with disabilities.  Technical assistance is available on any aspect of planning, simulation and response. 

The American Red Cross provides information for educators, curricula for schools, video and many other resources for those preparing for an emergency.

Emergency Planning For People with Disabilities and other Special Needs: Carl T. Cameron, Ph.D., Network News, winter issue, a publication of the Urban Energy & Transportation Corporation. 

Precious Mettle: Story of Tina Hansen, being carried down stairs of World Trade Tower. People Magazine, October 1, 2001. 

Disaster! This article in the November, 1994 issue of Mainstream Magazine deals with the gaps in emergency management related to people with disabilities. 

Coping With the Aftermath: How Does Someone With An Anxiety Disorder Cope In a Changed World?  Kathleen Henning, 9/19/01. 

Disaster Mitigation for Persons with Disabilities: Fostering a New Dialogue. A report by The Annenberg Washington Program in collaboration with The President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities by Annenberg Senior Fellow Peter David Blanck. 

Only two people in wheelchairs made it out of the World Trade Centers on September 11^th, 2001.  Freedom to Move is about Ron Heagy, one man with a mobility impairment who started a fund after September 11^th to address evacuation procedures for persons with disabilities. 

Preparing for the Next Emergency is an article by Cheryl Heppner, Executive Director of the NVRC on a presentation by Carl T. Cameron, Ph.D. of the Disability Preparedness Center on the state of emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities since September 11^th.