INCLUSION OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES INTO EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS

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INCLUSION OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES INTO
EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS
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FACTS
There are over 30 million Americans who are Deaf,
Hard of Hearing, Blind or Deaf/Blind (approx. 11
of our population). Their disabilities affect
how they receive information
Deaf The primary language for the majority of
citizens who are Deaf is American Sign
Language (ASL), it has no roots in English.
Blind Audible beeps alert them to an
inaccessible text message that is being shown
on their television screen. Hard of Hearing In
the event of late breaking emergency
information or alerts, often captioning is not
available. Deaf/Blind Have extremely limited
or no access to broadcast alerts or any
emergency information.
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PROBLEMS

• Text captioning IS NOT a complete solution
• If emergency information is captioned (text) on
  television, the information is not accessible for
  Americans who are Deaf and require ASL or those
  who are blind and need to have the information
  voiced.
• Without timely access to comprehensible emergency
  information, this segment of our population could
  easily become a liability or worse, our
  casualties.

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SOLUTIONS
ACCESSIBLE HAZARD ALERT SYSTEM (AHAS) provides
National, State and County Emergency Managers
the ability to provide emergency
information/alerts to Broadcasters in an air
ready format in Voice, Sign Language and Text.
AHAS-IN, is an enrollment program which allows
persons with disabilities to receive individual
notification of alerts/emergency information. The
Individual Notifications are sent to
text/internet capable devices, such as, cell
phones, pagers, smart phones/PDAs and email on
computers directing the person to the alert in a
accessible format.
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Deaf Links Outreach Program

• provides information and enrollment opportunities
  to persons with disabilities who would benefit
  from accessible alerts and preparedness
  information.
• Components
• Printed/Electronic materials
• Networking with key disability agencies
• Presentations
• Accessible Informational videos in American Sign
  Language, voice and text

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www.deaflink.com