This initiative is designed to implement a series of activities that will enhance ongoing UASI emergency planning in the National Capital Region by incorporating into it new preparedness planning for individuals with disabilities and other special needs.  Building an enhanced and sustainable preparedness and response capacity for the NCR should include the 20% of our fellow citizens who have disabilities that may limit their ability to hear or see warnings, to leave their home, or to care for themselves. The proposed activities will contribute to meeting UASI objectives.

The ongoing jurisdictional assessments and development of an urban area security strategy will be more complete if they explicitly include those NCR residents who are most vulnerable to terrorist attack. People with disabilities and other special needs can contribute to developing and implementing programs by bringing to working groups first hand reports of the evacuation and sheltering problems they face, and their skills and experience in overcoming obstacles. Agencies, organizations and groups involved with disability issues can make a major contribution to increasing coordination and networking that will benefit everyone in the NCR in the event of terrorist attack or other threat. A coordinated regional effort to include persons with disabilities in planning for prevention, response and recovery will make best use of scarce resources, ensure regional consistency, and engage more people in UASI efforts.

For people with disabilities to be covered by response plans and contribute to developing plans a number of interlocking activities are needed, all of which supplement and will be coordinated with existing NCR UASI efforts. The Disability Preparedness Center (DPC), working with all jurisdictions in the NCR, proposes to undertake the following planning activities:

Survey first responders and regional and local planners to assess (and raise awareness of) resources and needs for disability preparedness in localities throughout the region.

Provide technical assistance and skills development to first responders to assist them in including persons with disabilities in planning activities and in response and recovery plans.

Identify people with disabilities living independently, with family, or in residential facilities and recruit them to participate in planning activities. 

Plan and implement an information campaign to inform the public about ways to better prepare in the event of an emergency. 

Establish an NCR Disability Advisory Committee to be a visible public presence and oversee development of inclusive emergency preparedness, response and recovery. 

Hold a one-day regional conference on the roles and responsibilities in emergency preparedness of people with disabilities, advocates, agencies and service providers. 

Develop a curriculum for persons with disabilities to prepare them to participate effectively in planning, and to pass on their skills to other people with disabilities. 

Develop a “planning participation course” for disability agency staff and service provider staff to help prepare them to do effective emergency planning and implementation. 

Develop an enhanced emergency communication network for persons with disabilities.