Monthly Updates - February, 2006

Updates

ICC Research Subcommittee

The ICDR seeks comments from the public on research needs related to disability and rehabilitation. The ICDR will analyze these comments to make recommendations for future research directions and coordinate federal research efforts in disability. A public comment form is available at http://www.icdr.us/. By completing this form, you can help bring attention to important research issues.

The ICDR and the Research Subcommittee of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities are working jointly on this project and your detailed input would be most helpful.

Emergency Preparedness Included in NIDRR Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2005-2009
Steven J. Tingus, director NIDRR in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Department of Education, is pleased to share with you an important message about the release of the NIDRR Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2005-2009. NIDRR supports applied research on all aspects of disability and rehabilitation, and their work is aimed at improving lives for people of all ages with disabilities.

Published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2006, NIDRR's Long-Range Plan outlines five domains of research -- employment, participation in community life, health, technological access, and disability demographics -- as well as a strategy for achieving short-term and mid-range outcomes related to each domain. NIDRR developed the Plan in consultation with constituent groups and federal partners, and will implement the Plan through grants priorities, program assessments, training, and widespread dissemination of information.

In recognition of NIDRR's ongoing work in the area of emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities, the Plan now incorporates emergency preparedness in the discussion of the national policy context for NIDRR research. The Plan is accessible at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2006-1/021506d.html.

ICC Emergency Transportation Subcommittee

DOT Creates New Emergency Transportation Website for People with Disabilities
On January 6, 2006, the U.S. DOT Departmental Office of Civil Rights established a new and simplified web address for its Emergency Transportation Website for People with Disabilities. The site, which can now be found at www.emergencyprep.dot.gov, contains useful emergency transportation information and resources that targets individuals with disabilities, their families and care givers, as well as transportation service providers. Resources cover a range of topics including providing accessible transportation services during and after a disaster or an emergency, safe and accessible evacuation from transit systems, and community transportation assistance programs. The site was initially launched in July 2005 by the Emergency Transportation Subcommittee of the Interagency Coordinating Council.

John Benison Appointed to DOT's Catastrophic Hurricane Evacuation Plan Team
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ICC representative, John Benison, has been appointed to DOT's Catastrophic Hurricane Evacuation Plan Evaluation Team. The Evaluation Team is responsible for the Department's day-to-day work reviewing of Gulf Coast communities' catastrophic hurricane evacuation plans. The results of the evaluation must be reported to congress no later than June 1, 2006. Mr. Benison is participating in the work of the Evaluation Team as a means of ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are considered during the evaluation. The DOT Director of Civil Rights, Michael Trujillo, is a member of the Catastrophic Hurricane Evacuation Review Project Management Council. This Council consists primarily of Political Senior Executives and oversees the work of the Evaluation Team.

ICC Private Sector Coordination Subcommittee

Interagency Coordinating Council Representatives Collaborate with Veterans' Service Organizations
On Jan 17, 2006, ICC Representatives Claudia Gordon (DHS CRCL), Ollie Cantos (U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division), Cheryl King, (Federal Communications Commissions Disability Rights Section) and John Martin (Office of Personnel Management) hosted a meeting with several major veterans' service organizations including the Blinded Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign War, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans to discuss emergency preparedness, training and planning at the local and state levels. Representatives from the Veterans Administration (VA) attended and reported on their successful efforts in assisting veterans in the Gulf region during the hurricane crises in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The group reached consensus that the VA's hurricane response efforts were promising practices worthy of dissemination to a much broader audience. Attendees agreed to develop plans to guide and provide technical assistance to transfer the VA's knowledge and information to other disability service and advocacy organizations. In follow up to that meeting, Tom Zampieri of the Blinded Veterans of America, met with the VA and will be developing an emergency preparedness handout for elderly and disabled veterans through out the country. The ICC will continue its dialogue with the VA. If you have any questions, or wish to be involved, please contact Megan Hogan either by telephone (202) 401-2569 or via email megan.hogan@associates.dhs.gov.

Collaboration with Salvation Army
DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the Salvation Army USA are engaged in preliminary discussions regarding possible collaborative efforts to revise the Salvation Army's volunteer disaster training course. As a result of the Hurricane Katrina response, the Salvation Army is exploring ways to improve their volunteer disaster training and is receptive to including a disability component in such training. CRCL provided sample reference material to the Salvation Army's Director of Disaster Services. In addition, CRCL is exploring other partnership opportunities within Salvation Army's Social Services Division.

Salvation Army USA will host a National Social Services Conference in partnership with Canada and Bermuda in Toronto, Ontario from March 25-29. More information can be found at http://www1.salvationarmy.org/usn/sanssc-brochure2006.pdf.

Collaboration with American Red Cross
Representatives from the National Office of the American Red Cross (ARC) met with Daniel Sutherland, CRCL Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Hilary Styron, National Organization on Disability, to review and discuss the ICC's post-Katrina recommendations that specifically call on the ARC to improve its services to people with disabilities. The ARC continues their enthusiastic support of CRCL and the ICC's work, and demonstrates a strong commitment to improving their handling of disability issues. Outcomes of this collaboration include:

• ARC contributing to the ICC Hurricane Katrina and People with Disabilities Interim Lessons Learned report.
• An agreement to issue a joint letter --ARC and the ICC-- to all Independent Living Centers, Protection and Advocacy agencies, and national disability advocacy organizations encouraging them to become a part of the ARC volunteer network.
• An agreement that the ARC will designate a senior level representative and staff point of contact to participate on the Interagency Coordinating Council
• Initiate the development of a volunteer training that focuses on serving people with disabilities in collaboration with NOD and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. CRCL will participate in the delivery of the pilot training, which is due for release in July 2006.

Enhanced 911 (E911) Stakeholders Meeting
A representative from the California Coalition of Organizations Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumers traveled to Washington, DC, and met with DHS CRCL, Federal Communications Commission, and Department of Justice representatives to discuss E911 concerns regarding full access to the system for the Deaf, hard of hearing, and speech-impaired populations. As a result of their unique communication needs and emerging technologies, these populations often utilize internet-based relay services such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone services using Internet Protocol (IP), and IP Relay for telecommunications access through stationed pc-based equipment or wireless devices. Currently, these internet-based services are not adequately equipped to access the E911 system.

Because of FCC's and DOJ's longstanding regulatory and enforcement ties to this issue, CRCL DHS is coordinating closely with them in identifying potential next steps.

ICC Health Subcommittee

Development of Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for State and Local Planners
The charge of the ICC Health Subcommittee is to meet the health challenges of persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness, and under the leadership of the HHS Office on Disability a toolkit is being developed. This toolkit is for all disasters - natural (i.e., floods, fires, and hurricanes) and acts of terrorism (i.e., chemical, toxic substances, etc.). It is designed for state and local emergency preparedness planners. This tool kit should be available by summer 2006.

HHS Working to Ensure Emergency Preparedness Issues of Persons with Disabilities addressed in the National Response Plan
Leaders of the ICC Health Subcommittee is working with the HHS Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP) in ensuring that emergency preparedness issues for persons with disabilities are addressed in the ESF #8 guidelines coordinated by HHS Office of Emergency Preparedness. Following identification of ESF #8 disability recommendations, a similar process will be used for other ESF chapters where health is included. Such attention includes:

• Presenting information on and discussing with the Health Subcommittee on the NRP ESF chapters (ESF #8 and others that address health) and how these documents currently addresses disability issues in limited fashion;
• Identifying how disability-based concerns can be integrated into the ESF #8 and other health related ESF chapters;
• Including OPHEP representatives on the Health Subcommittee to support planning and advocacy interchange; and
• Providing disability representation from the Office on Disability Director and Deputy Director on the HHS OPHEP ESF#8 and the Federal Medical Shelter Workgroups.

HHS Emergency Preparedness State Conference
The HHS - through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Office on Disabilities and the Administration on Aging, in partnership with several federal agencies and departments - is planning a conference for the summer of 2006. This conference will target State Emergency Planners across the nation, providing each state with the opportunity to enhance respective state emergency preparedness plans by attending to persons with disabilities of all ages. A combination of expert speakers and technical assistance will result in a more consistent approach to disability inclusion in state emergency preparedness plans. More information will be available soon.

Hurricanes Related Activities:
Locating Missing Persons with Sensory Disabilities: The Office on Disability coordinated with the New Orleans, LA Protection and Advocacy Organization, the national Red Cross and the HHS OPHEP staff through use of OHEP's tracking contract (tracks missing persons due to the Hurricanes including those with disabilities) to help locate two women with sensory disabilities missing since Hurricane Katrina. After an intensive review by all parties, the missing women were identified as having died, and found in the New Orleans morgue.

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Waivers:
The Office on Disability is working closely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on supporting hurricane based waiver information for persons with disabilities impacted by the hurricanes.

Surgeon General:
In the Wake of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the Office on Disability is working closely with the Office of the Surgeon General to help ensure that the health needs of persons with disabilities impacted by the hurricanes and other emergencies are addressed.

ICC Technical Assistance and Outreach Subcommittee

Newly Redesigned ICC Website: www.disabilitypreparedness.gov Goes Live
In July 2005, the Council unveiled the Disability Preparedness Resource Center web site. In the months since the site's original launch, the Council redesigned this web site and incorporated cutting edge web site navigational capabilities making the site very user friendly. In addition, the Council has added additional disability preparedness information. Having designated its own URL: www.disabilitypreparedness.gov, the Disability Preparedness Resource Center provides information focusing on emergency management issues affecting people with disabilities; family members of and service and care providers for people with disabilities; and emergency planners, managers and first responders.

For Council specific information visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/committees/editorial_0591.shtm

ICC State, Local and Tribal Government Coordination Subcommittee

Top Officials (TOPOFF) Exercises: TOPOFF 4 Command Post Exercise Initial Planning Conference - February 16, 2006
DHS CRCL involvement continues with TOPOFF exercise development. CRCL representative participated in a second TOPOFF 4 planning conference to identify working groups assigned to develop the details of the exercise scenarios. During the conference, Butch Colvin, Acting Director, Exercises, Office of Grants and Training, emphasized that TOPOFF 4 must test the capability to handle the evacuation of people with disabilities. CRCL is working closely with the Office of Grants and Training to ensure the involvement of appropriate disability subject matter expertise in the exercise scenario development to assure that this goal is accomplished.

Background: CRCL actively participated in the development of the TOPOFF 3 Full Scale Exercise After-Action Report submitted to Secretary Chertoff. That report included a Remediation Action Plan identifying shortfalls the exercise did not sufficiently address, and recommendations to correct those shortfalls. CRCL's primary concern was that the exercise did not sufficiently address the needs of people with disabilities in exercise planning, play, delivery or in the accommodation of observers with disabilities. CRCL made specific recommendations to have these issues remedied during TOPOFF 4.

On January 4-5, 2006, CRCL representatives participated in TOPOFF 4 Concept Conference, which will impact State planning conferences, Senior Officials Exercises, a Command Post Exercise and a Full-Scale Exercises. The culmination of the TOPOFF 4 Cycle will be a Large-Scale Exercise to take place in Arizona, Oregon, and Guam and will address medium and long-term recovery issues.

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) 2006 Mid-Year Conference, February 11-15, 2006
DHS CRCL representatives attended the NEMA 2006 mid-year conference to strengthen relationships with state and local government emergency planners. Conference attendees represented all sectors of emergency management including state emergency management and homeland security directors. The CRCL representatives participated in two days of working committee meetings focusing on legislation, legal issues, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, homeland security, and private industry to identify areas of NEMA's existing framework where disability issues ought to be integrated. A significant discussion arose within the Legal Committee on HIPPA and its impact on emergency managers with respect to identifying individuals with cognitive disabilities who may need additional assistance during an evacuation. To avoid any legal repercussions following an event, the committee is seeking definitive Federal policy to communicate to their community emergency planners.

Notably, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, George Foresman, DHS Undersecretary for Preparedness, and Dave Paulison, Acting Director of FEMA presented at the conference. They each presented candid assessments of the Katrina response and provided a roadmap for the future. Frances Townsend, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, specifically made reference to the importance of considering people with disabilities as the nation reviews its plans and work to improve response processes.

While at the conference, CRCL representatives initiated discussion on possible collaboration on a disaster public education project with the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). EMAP is an independent non-profit organization affiliated with NEMA. This project was undertaken due to the identified need for guidance on how to better inform the public about disasters - before and during an incident. EMAP partners realize the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities are part of the communication process and welcome the potential partnership. (www.emaponline.org)

CRCL Initiate Dialogue with the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding
The extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast area will necessitate the re-building and/or substantial alteration of housing, places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and government facilities. Except for detached single family houses, almost all of the new construction that will occur as a result of hurricane damage is required to be accessible pursuant to the Fair Housing Act (FHA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and/or the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). Substantial alterations to public accommodations and commercial facilities, government buildings, and all types of facilities involving federal funding are also required to be accessible pursuant to the ADA, Section 504, and the ABA.

CRCL has initiated dialogue with Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding. An initial meeting occurred on February 16, 2006, with Regional Director, Donna Gambrell. Ms. Gambrell hailed the briefing by CRCL as timely and very helpful in sensitizing her to the accessibility issues that must be a priority in the rebuilding process. Immediate next steps include a meeting between Daniel Sutherland and Chairman Don Powell, who is the Federal Coordinator. Additionally, CRCL is in the process of coordinating a meeting of key representatives from FEMA, Department of Justice, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Access Board to clarify roles and responsibilities as it relates to this issue, as well as carving out concrete strategies to ensure that the accessibility requirements will be met in the rebuilding process.

Nationwide Emergency Operation Plan Review President Bush tasked DHS to conduct a review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America. In a September 23, 2005 memo, Secretary Chertoff further ordered that the review include a rigorous examination of how these communities plan to prepare, inform, evacuate, and care for people with disabilities. To ensure this, CRCL has been actively providing input and advice to the review process which is being led by the DHS Preparedness Directorate, Office of Grants and Training.

Phase I of the review process constituted a mandatory self-assessment by State and urban areas/major cities using guidelines outlined in the Preparedness Directorate Information Bulletin 197 (http://www.fema.gov/good_guidance/download/10145). All State and urban areas/major cities participants were required to answer several questions including two disability related questions associated with catastrophic event planning:

• What actions are being taken to fully address requirements for populations with special needs, particularly persons with disabilities?
• What actions are being taken to ensure prompt evacuation of patients (ambulatory and non-ambulatory) from health care or other facilities?

CRCL and the Preparedness Directorate deem it extremely important that an appropriate mix of disability Subject Matter Experts (SME) be assembled and engaged in the next phase of this important review process. Phase II involves peer review and validation of the self-assessment submissions and determination of requirements for planning assistance. The Offices are currently forming a team of disability SMEs for this purpose. At the completion of the review process, CRCL will compile the SME's findings for inclusion in the final report due to the President and Congress.

ICC Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace Subcommittee

Preparing the Workplace for Everyone: A Framework of Guidelines
Pursuant to President's Executive Order 13347, the ICC Workplace Subcommittee is coordinating efforts to ensure that all federal government agencies' and departments' emergency plans address the unique perspectives and needs of employees and visitors with disabilities. This Subcommittee has developed a comprehensive documentation of planning principles entitled "Preparing the Workplace for Everyone: A Framework of Guidelines." This Framework is steering Federal Government agencies in the development, implementation, and maintenance of emergency plans that are fully inclusive of employees with disabilities. To view the Framework of Guidelines, go to http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/emergency.htm.

These guidelines are intended to serve as a launching point for re-evaluating agency emergency plans. It sets out key points for consideration and is based on the effective practices of over 20 federal agencies. Recognizing that emergency management benefits from continuous feedback and lessons learned; the Framework of Guidelines will be an evolving document.

The ICC Workplace Subcommittee is proactively disseminating and presenting the Framework of Guidelines on Workplace Preparedness to key federal officials at the national, regional, and field office levels. The Subcommittee is also engaging the business sector to ascertain unique concerns and insights on workplace preparedness in order to communicate emergency guidelines in business-friendly terms. Finally, in addressing workplace issues related to recovery from an emergency, the Subcommittee is leading Council efforts to identify strategies that employers and employees with disabilities can use to keep connected to their work during a time of disaster and displacement from the workplace. This study encompasses immediate communication, coordination, and continuity mechanisms as well as long-term recovery strategies.

ICC Incident Management Team

Interagency Coordinating Council Incident Management Team Members Assist Gulf Coast Disability Protection and Advocacy Groups to Obtain Blackberries for Hurricane Recovery
Members of the ICC's Incident Management Team facilitated a dialogue between the Disability Protection and Advocacy programs in the 4 most hurricane-affected Gulf states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) with providers of wireless data devices that culminated in the donation of 100 Blackberries and 6 months free data (email) service to these disability workers to assist in providing after-disaster and continuing on-going service to evacuees and other hurricane-impacted persons with severe disabilities.

Upcoming Events

March 25-29, 2006
Salvation Army, USA National Social Services Conference 2006 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Please visit http://www.salvationarmyusa.org for more information and registration.

March 31, 2006
Public Health Grand Rounds, "Learning from Katrina: Tough Lessons in Preparedness and Emergency Response"
The Public Health Grand Rounds will broadcast discussions of the tough lessons learned and share the experiences of public health leaders and community partners in surviving and responding to Hurricane Katrina. This program may be viewed at a satellite downlink site near you or as a web cast. If you don't find a site near you on the Public Health Grand Rounds website, please email grandrounds@unc.edu or phone 919.843.9261. To register, please visit http://publichealthgrandrounds.unc.edu.

Individuals with disabilities who need Sign Language Interpreters and/or reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Tonya Truesdale-Young, NICHSR, 301-402-2149, the Federal Relay (1-800-877-8339). Requests should be made at least 5 days in advance of the event.

April 18-22, 2006 100th Anniversary: 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Conference San Francisco, CA.
Marking the centennial of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more than 2,000 professionals engaged in emergency management, earth science, engineering, risk management, and business continuity from around the world will meet for the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference for the week of April 17- 21. The event will include more than 100 sessions and tutorials covering issues critical to earth scientists, building owners, emergency responders, earthquake engineers, policy makers, and disaster mitigation professionals. Please visit www.1906eqconf.org for more information and registration.

May 9-12, 2006
14th Annual Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster Conference Raleigh, NC
This year's conference theme is "Lighting Our Way Together."

May 21-24, 2006
5th UCLA Conference on Public Health and Disasters Woodland Hills, California
This multidisciplinary conference will bring together scholars, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers from public health, mental health, community disaster preparedness and response, social sciences, government, media, and nongovernmental organizations in a forum that will promote a dialogue and exchange of ideas for improving public health emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Please visit http://www.cphd.ucla.edu/ to register or for more information.

About the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities

1. Emergency Communications;
2. Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace;
3. Emergency Transportation;
4. Health;
5. Private Sector Coordination;
6. Research;
7. State, Local and Tribal Government Coordination; and
8. Technical Assistance and Outreach.

For more information about the ICC please visit www.disabilitypreparedness.gov