Monthly Updates - March 2007

ICC Monthly Highlights

NIMS Second National Comment Period Announced – March 26, 2007 – April 6, 2007

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is coordinating a comprehensive review of the National Response Plan (NRP) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) to assess their effectiveness and identify improvements. The review process, which includes participation from all levels of stakeholders, commenced in October 2006 and is scheduled to be concluded by June 1, 2007.

The NIMS is a key element in the national framework for domestic incident management. It provides a nationwide template that enables Federal, State, local and tribal governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to work together efficiently and effectively to manager the consequences of domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property.

As part of the review process, stakeholders will be asked to participate in two formal comment periods on both documents to ensure their effectiveness as national doctrine for incident management. The first draft of the NIMS document was released for national comment February 1-19, 2007. Hundreds of stakeholders nationwide provided comments during this review period. CRCL submitted comprehensive comments on behalf of the NRP/NIMS Special Needs Work Group. Comments from the review period have been adjudicated by the NIMS Working Group and a complete technical edit of the document has been performed by the Writing Team. The second national comment period for the NIMS document is March 26, 2007 through April 6, 2007. The document can be accessed at http://www.dhs.gov/nrp (click on "currently under review" and scroll down to the "progress" section). If you would like to request a comment form to submit comments, please email NIMScomments@hsi.dhs.gov. However, while a comment form will help assure clarity and consistency, it is not a requirement. You may also submit your comments directly to that email address.

Participation in the NRP/NIMS review process is essential to ensure that the Nation can effectively and efficiently prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from any type of incident.

Update on CRCL NRP/NIMS Activities: On March 1, 2007, CRCL submitted its recommendations to the NIMS Writing Team on behalf of the Special Needs Work Group. Among the key recommendations was a request for the addition of a Special Needs Advisor to the Incident Command System (ICS) structure. The recommendations submitted also incorporated input from the NRP/NIMS Special Needs Work Group meeting that took place on February 8 – 9, 2007.

ICC Principals Meeting

On February 27, 2007, the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities convened its Principal level meeting at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Among the topics discussed were activities related to the revision of the NRP and the NIMS; an update on the current status of this process pertaining to the recommendations developed and the feedback received this far in the area of Special Needs considerations; activities related to the development of a definition for the term "special needs"; and the development of a Special Needs Reference document that will be published concurrently with the revised NRP in June of this year. Various agency Council members also provided updates on their current activities in the area of emergency management and individuals with disabilities.

National Citizen Corps Council Subcommittee on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness

On March 21, 2007, the National Citizen Corps Council Subcommittee on Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness met at the Corporation for National and Community Service headquarters. Staff from The Corporation for National & Community Service provided the disability organization representatives in attendance with information about their organization’s volunteer activities related to emergency management and individuals with disabilities. The Corporation is a federal agency, established in 1993, that strives to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in voluntary service opportunities in their communities. The Corporation is the nation’s largest grant maker supporting national and community service programs and volunteerism. Among other agenda items was an update from the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties on activities relating to the FEMA Disability Coordinator position and the DHS National Advisory Council. Subcommittee members also provided updates on relevant activities relating to emergency management and individuals with disabilities within their respective organizations.

About the ICC National Citizen Corps Council Subcommittee: This subcommittee encourages collaboration and exchange of expertise and input among leaders of the various first responder disciplines, emergency management personnel, volunteer and nonprofit organizations, and disability consumer organizations on issues related to the safety and security of individuals with disabilities in situations involving natural or man-made disasters and emergencies.

ICC Monthly Updates

US Department of Health and Human Services

Margaret Giannini, MD, FAAP, Honored in France

On March 16th 2007, Margaret Giannini, MD, FAAP, Director of the Office on Disability at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, received the Trophee of Honor from the Federation of Disabled Youth and Adults, which represents over 600 organizations in France. The award ceremony was under the auspices of the President of the Republic of France, UNESCO, the Regional Counsel of the Ile de France and the City Council of Paris, it was held at the Palais des Congres in Paris, France. Dr. Giannini received the award for the outstanding contributions she has made nationally and internationally for persons with disabilities for more than five decades.

Each year the Federation selects a country for its exemplary policies on behalf of persons with disabilities and selects an outstanding person from that country. China and Africa were so honored in the past two years. This year the U.S. was the chosen country and Dr. Giannini was selected as the honoree.

American Ambassador Craig R. Stapleton joined Dr. Giannini when the award was presented. The ceremony, attended by approximately 4,000 people, was designed to raise public awareness and honor initiatives that enable persons with disabilities to participate in social, professional and cultural life.

AMA Honors Doctor Margaret Giannini with Top Government Service Award

Margaret Giannini, MD, FAAP, Director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disability recently received the Dr. Nathan David Award for Outstanding Government Service — the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) highest award for a public official. George Stephanopoulos, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News and host of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" presented the award at a February 13 AMA awards dinner in Washington, D.C.

"Dr. Giannini is truly deserving of this recognition, she has contributed greatly to the well being of individuals with disabilities through her long and remarkable career," said William G. Plested, AMA President.

Dr. Giannini was one of eight honorees chosen this year to receive the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service. The award, named for the founding father of the AMA, recognizes elected and career officials in federal, state or municipal service whose outstanding contributions have promoted the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

"Through the Nathan Davis Awards, the American Medical Association salutes government officials that go above and beyond the call of duty to improve public health," said Dr. Plested. "Award winners come from every branch of government service, and are a testament to the important role public officials play in creating and implementing health policy that benefits Americans."

Dr. Giannini was recognized for her work in the field of disability-service, education, research and advocacy. In 1950, She founded the Mental Retardation Institute of New York Medical College, which became the first University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities. Since then, Dr. Giannini has held various executive roles including Deputy Assistant Chief Medical Director for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was appointed the first Director of the National Institute of Disabilities Rehabilitation Research by President Carter, and as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Aging by President George W. Bush. Additionally, President Johnson honored Dr. Giannini as "Woman of the Year" for Achievement in Medicine. Dr. Giannini has chaired numerous national and international summits dedicated to rehabilitation and, in December 2006, she chaired the ninth International Congress on Disabilities.

Dr. Giannini was nominated for the award by Errol R. Alden, MD, Executive Director of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the AMA Federation.

Development of Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for State and Local Planners

The charge of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee is to meet the health and human services challenges of persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness. To meet that charge, under the leadership of the HHS Office on Disability and the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR), a web based training toolkit targeting State and local emergency response managers is being developed. This toolkit will also be available in other medium including written and audio formats. The web-based tool will combine existing guidance and best practices in an accessible and useful site. The information will be organized based upon the criteria below:

• All-Hazards Approach: FEMA currently issues planning and SOP guidance based upon an all-hazards model. The toolkit will follow this approach to ensure consistency with current methodology and familiarity to the emergency planner.
• Emergency Support Function (ESF): After identifying the hazard, the user will filter for ESF-focused guidance.
• Category of Disability: As defined in the statement of work, disabilities may be grouped into one or more of the following categories: physical, sensory, cognitive, behavioral, and chronic. The toolkit will address various planning considerations and best-practice research for functional limitations in each category.
• Output: After the user navigates through the schema, the toolkit will generate output to address planning considerations for each phase of emergency management.

In addition to the toolkit development, there will be an introductory web based training module on disability. It will first be used to educate HHS Public Health and civil service staff on detail during an emergency event.

HHS Working to Ensure Emergency Preparedness Issues of Persons with Disabilities are Addressed in the National Response Plan.

The Leadership of the Office on Disability Health and Human Services Subcommittee has worked with the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and representatives from all HHS agencies in ensuring that emergency preparedness issues for persons with disabilities are addressed in the ongoing rewrite of the National Response Plan, including participation in the Support Annex working groups and input to all ESF Annex rewrites.

Disaster Mental Health Research Center Announcement

The Department of Health and Human Services in coordination with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announces the formation of a Disaster Mental Health Research Center (DMHRC). Given the complex public health, political, legal, and social context brought about by major emergencies and crises, NIMH seeks to create a DMHRC of interdisciplinary researchers to pre-plan epidemiological and pilot clinical research protocols in conjunction with public health authorities in advance of unforeseen emergencies.

NIMH is encouraging highly capable and experienced disaster researchers to work out complex arrangements necessary for conducting research after unforeseen events involving mass violence and/or trauma. NIMH seeks to support a pre-positioned team within the research center to plan for various disaster scenarios, perhaps targeting predictable storm seasons, disaster prone communities, and/or major metropolitan and economic centers that may be the target of human-caused violence. The overarching goal of the DMHRC is to create a multidisciplinary group to track key public health indicators and to lay the foundation for high impact clinical/services research projects.

For more information on the announcement and to view application deadlines please visit: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-07-070.html#PartII.

US Department of Transportation

Service Data Object (SDO) Emergency Services Coordination Workshop

The purpose of the SDO Emergency Services Coordination Workshop is to share information regarding existing emergency services standards such as telephone, teletypwriter (TTY), instant messaging, and wideband speech and video, and coordinate existing standards to avoid inefficiencies due to a lack of SDO coordination.

This workshop will focus on citizen-to-authority communication with topics focusing on: emergency services requirements and architectures; unauthenticated network access; emergency service identification, mapping location information to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP); location formats and mechanism to deliver location information to various entities; and legal aspects of emergency services.

The workshop will take place on April 10 – 12 in Washington, DC. For more information please visit: http://www.emergency-services-coordination.info/2007/.

US Department of Education

NIDRR Releases Newsletter – Spring 2007

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) recently released its Spring Newsletter: News From NIDRR. Among the articles highlighted in the newsletter are: "The RERC Program-Prestigious Beginnings Lead to Significant Advancements"; "Grantee Profile-RERC on Cognitive Technologies"; and "Noteworthy Technology Accomplishments Recognized by Expert Panel."

To view the newsletter, please send an email to NIDRR.News@ed.gov and request to be added to the NIDRR distribution list.

US Department of Justice

Project Civic Access Activities

DOJ recently signed its 152nd Project Civic Access agreement; the agreements contain standard emergency management provisions whenever the city or county has responsibility for emergency management functions. As part of the long-standing Project Civic Access to enforce title II of the ADA, DOJ has for years routinely required cities and counties to do the following:

• remove architectural barriers to their emergency shelters so the shelters are accessible to persons with disabilities;
• consult regularly with the disability community regarding all facets of emergency management planning;
• modify community evacuation plans to enable people with disabilities to safely self-evacuate or be evacuated by others;
• provide visual warning systems (such as auto-dialed text messaging or email notification) to inform people who are deaf or hard of hearing of an impending disaster;
• ensure that emergency shelters have back-up generators and a way to keep medications refrigerated (such as a refrigerator or a cooler with ice) for people who use power-assisted mobility devices or who take medication, such as insulin, that must be refrigerated;
• establish policies that allow people who use service animals to shelter with their service animals, even if pets are not allowed in shelters; and,
• if post-emergency housing is provided, the city or county must provide accessible temporary post-emergency housing for people with disabilities.

To learn more about Project Civic Access or to review the settlement agreements please visit: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/civicac.htm.

Department of Justice Releases New Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance Materials

The Department of Justice released new technical assistance materials to help state and local governments comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The materials are part of the "ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments," a project announced by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales in October 2006.

"In our work with state and local governments throughout the country, we see many common problems with ADA compliance," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Department is issuing the Tool Kit to help state and local government officials gain a better understanding of how to ensure equal access to government programs and services for all of their citizens with a disability."

The Tool Kit is a commonsense guide to achieving ADA compliance. Chapters 3 and 4 of the recently released Tool Kit address the ADA requirement of ensuring effective communications for people with disabilities. "People who are deaf or hard of hearing, those who are blind or have low vision, and individuals with other types of disabilities are entitled to equal access to state and local government programs, services and activities," added Assistant Attorney General Kim. "These new chapters of the Tool Kit contain practical guidance, including checklists and action steps, that state, county, and city officials can use to identify and resolve ADA compliance issues in government agencies and programs across the country, including public hospitals, courts, law enforcement agencies, 9-1-1 emergency communication systems, and recreation programs."

During the past six years, through its Project Civic Access initiative, the Civil Rights Division has worked cooperatively with city and county officials to improve access for more than 2 million people with disabilities. The Department has reached 152 agreements that improve access for people with disabilities to city and county office buildings, courts, polling places, emergency shelters, museums, parks, law enforcement and corrections facilities, and websites.

The Tool Kit and other ADA materials are available on the Department's ADA Web site at http://www.ada.gov.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD Activities in the Gulf Coast Region

Creating Fair Housing Agencies in Gulf Region The HUD offices of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) in Atlanta and Jackson, MS, are providing technical assistance that is helping the state of Mississippi adopt a fair housing law that is substantially equivalent to the Fair Housing Act. Mississippi is currently researching the possible passage of a Fair Housing bill during it 2007 legislative session. FHEO is also working with the Mississippi Development Authority to help the cities of Gulfport and Biloxi update their Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.

Training Architects, Builders, and Developers How to Design and Build Accessible Housing On January 9, 17, and 19, 2007, through the ACCESSIBILITY FIRST Program, FHEO provided architects, builders, and developers in Lafayette, New Orleans, and Biloxi, respectively, with information on disability rights laws, common design and construction violations and solutions, and an in-depth technical overview of the Fair Housing Act's accessibility requirements. Approximately 185 builders, architects, and developers attended the training sessions.

Working With Advocacy Community FHEO Assistant Secretary Kim Kendrick sent a letter to approximately 20 disability rights organizations as a follow-up to Public Law 109-234, which made $5.2 billion available to the five Gulf States affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma to address any disaster relief, long-term recovery, and infrastructure needs. The letter urges disability rights groups to reach out to state and local governments to get a fair share of the CDBG funds to assist in developing accessible and affordable housing for low-income communities, particularly communities with large numbers of persons with disabilities.

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Communications Commission to Host First Responders Summit

The Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) recently announced that the bureau will host the "First Responders Summit: Interoperable and Reliable Public Safety Communications" on Friday, April 20, 2007, 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M, in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305).

The summit will include three expert panel discussions led by representatives from the public safety community, the communications industry, and government. In addition, the summit will close with an open roundtable forum for participants to raise key issues related to emergency preparedness and response.

The expert panel discussions are as follows:
I. Government agencies and public safety initiatives;
II. Transition from Legacy to Future Architectures - Integration of Current Systems into IP-based Networks, Radio Bridging; and,
III. Beyond Voice - Broadband Applications for First Responders.

An official summit agenda will be released by the PSHSB. The summit will be open to the public; however, admittance will be limited to the seating available. A live audiocast will be available at http://www.fcc.gov. Those individuals who are interested in attending the summit may pre-register by contacting Sue Gilgenbach at (202) 418-0639 or by e-mail: sue.gilgenbach@fcc.gov.

Sign language interpreters and open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: For reasonable accommodations: 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

For additional information about the meeting, please contact Leon Jackler, Director of Public Safety Outreach and Coordination for PSHSB at (202) 418-0946 or by e-mail: leon.jackler@fcc.gov. Press inquiries should be directed to Robert Kenny. For more information please visit: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-271054A1.doc.

US Department of Homeland Security

Continued Collaboration on 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act – Section 689 Guidelines

CRCL and its ICC partners continue to collaborate with FEMA in the development of Guidelines for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in Disasters. The Guidelines are required by Section 689 of the 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Most recently, a draft of the Section 689 Reference Guide was submitted to members of the full writing team on March 22, 2007, for final input. The deadline for comments is April 2, 2007 after which the Guide will be submitted to FEMA.

Pursuant to its charge under Executive Order 13347, CRCL is coordinating the project by working collaboratively with a Work Group consisting of representatives from federal agencies with jurisdiction over the enforcement of various disability civil rights and accessibility laws. It is the intent of the Guidelines to demonstrate how the array of existing accessibility requirements can be synthesized and framed as a tool for use by response and recovery personnel in the field.

TOPOFF 4 Activities

CRCL submitted recommendations regarding additions to the scenario for the upcoming exercise to representatives of the DHS Top Officials (TOPOFF) National Exercise 4 planning staff. The inclusion of these recommendations is intended to ensure that disability/special needs issues are highly visible among the testing priorities. The exercise is scheduled for October 2007, and will involve simulated emergency events in Arizona, Oregon, and Guam.

Background: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s TOPOFF is a Congressionally mandated exercise designed to strengthen the nation’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from large-scale terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). CRCL actively participated in the drafting of the TOPOFF 3 Full Scale Exercise After-Action Report submitted to Secretary Chertoff. That report included a Remediation Action Plan identifying issues 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.

DHS – Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Outreach Activities and Events

Claudia Gordon, Senior Policy Advisor participated in a roundtable discussion sponsored by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) on March 8th, 2007. This discussion group included the 2007 AAPD Leadership Awardees and other emerging leaders with disabilities who live in the DC area (including several Paul G. Hearne/AAPD award winners from previous years). Topics for discussion included: future directions for the disability rights movement; leadership challenges we face as a community; the qualities and competencies we should be cultivating in our leaders; opportunities for greater collaboration and cohesiveness among leaders and leading organizations; and strategies for improving AAPD's work in the leadership arena.

Margaret Schaefer, Policy Advisor, delivered the keynote address at the "Your Power, Your Choice 2007" Conference at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. This conference gathered together service providers, consumers, educators, and others involved in providing resources to individuals with disabilities. The conference was focused on Emergency Awareness. Ms. Schaefer’s presentation included a description of recent CRCL activities related to emergency management and individuals with disabilities, suggestions for personal preparedness, and information on community involvement in preparedness and planning activities.

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act Implementation Effective March 31, 2007

On October 4, 2006, the President signed into law the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act. That Act establishes new leadership positions within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), brings additional functions into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), creates and reallocates functions to other components within DHS, and amends the Homeland Security Act, in ways that directly and indirectly affect the organization and functions of various entities within DHS. In addition, DHS has made certain other organizational changes outside of FEMA which complement the changes mandated by Congress. These changes, taken together, will strengthen DHS’s ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, respond to and recover from all hazard threats. Among the changes set to occur on March 31, 2007 are:

• National Preparedness will include existing FEMA programs and several legacy Preparedness Directorate programs. It will focus on policy, contingency planning, exercise coordination and evaluation, emergency management training and hazard mitigation with respect to the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness (CSEP) and Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REPP). National Preparedness will oversee two divisions: Readiness, Prevention and Planning (RPP), and the National Integration Center (NIC). Readiness, Prevention and Planning will be the central office within FEMA handling preparedness policy and planning functions. The National Integration Center will maintain the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Plan (NRP), and will coordinate activities with the U.S. Fire Administration.
• The Office of Grants and Training will be moved to the new FEMA and renamed the "Office of Grant Programs." The Training and Systems Support Divisionsof the Office of Grants and Training will be transferred to the National Integration Center (NIC). The Office of the Citizen Corps within the Office of Grants and Training will be transferred into the FEMA Office of Readiness, Prevention and Planning.

Additional headquarters positions created at FEMA by the Post-Katrina Act include a Disability Coordinator, residing in the FEMA Office of Equal Rights, a Small State and Rural Advocate, a Law Enforcement Advisor to the Administrator and a National Advisory Council. For more information please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/gc_1169243598416.shtm#content.

Recently Released Resources

GAO Releases Testimony on DHS and Preparing for and Responding to Disasters

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released testimony entitled "Homeland Security: Preparing for and Responding to Disasters." The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 stipulates major changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve the agency’s preparedness for and response to catastrophic disasters. For example, the act establishes a new mission for and new leadership positions within FEMA. As GAO has reported, DHS faces continued challenges, including clearly defining leadership roles and responsibilities, developing necessary disaster response capabilities, and establishing accountability systems to provide effective response while also protecting against waste, fraud, and abuse. This testimony discusses the extent to which DHS has taken steps to overcome these challenges.

To view this report please visit: http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-395T.
To view the Highlights please visit: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d07395thigh.pdf.

Help with viewing PDF files is available from the "Help" section of http://www.gao.gov. Check the information in the section titled, "Help with Reading Portable Document Format Files" if you have difficulty.

CRS Report for Congress Released: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., provides broad nondiscrimination protection for individuals with disabilities in employment, public services, and public accommodations and services operated by private entities. Although the ADA does not include provisions specifically discussing its application to disasters, its nondiscrimination provisions are applicable to emergency preparedness and responses to disasters. For example, this would mean that emergency planning should include individuals with disabilities and that emergency shelters should be accessible to individuals with disabilities. In order to further the ADA’s goals, President Bush issued an Executive Order on July 22, 2004 relating to emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and establishing the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its Nationwide Plan Review Phase 2 Report, which includes a discussion of people with disabilities and emergency planning and readiness. The National Council on Disability has also issued recommendations on emergency preparation and disaster relief relating to individuals with disabilities. The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 added the position of Disability Coordinator to FEMA. This CRS report will be updated as appropriate.

To view this report please visit: http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/06Jul/RS22254.pdf.

To view this report in HTML please visit: http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:BodJmT7jrj4J:www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/06Jul/RS22254.pdf+CRS+Report+The+Americans+with+Disabilities+Act+and+Emergency+Preparedness+and+Response&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us.

Making Connections: Engaging Employers In Preparing Chicago’s Youth for the Workforce - Chapin Hall Working Paper 2007

Engaging employers with youth in workforce preparation activities is widely supported by program providers as a good practice. Research, although limited, supports this practice as well. This paper describes the findings from 58 interviews with youth program providers, employers, and policy-makers that explored the inclusion of employers in workforce preparation activities for disadvantaged youth [including youth with disabilities]. The researchers examined the degree to which youth and employers are prepared to engage with each other, how race and culture influence the entire experience, and whether program and policy efforts to increase employer engagement are in scale with youth program demand. The research highlighted important disconnects between program providers and employers and the affect these disconnects may have on expanding employer involvement. Implications for program development are also discussed.

For more information on the report please visit: http://www.chapinhall.org/article_abstract.aspx?ar=1449&L2=62&L3=105.

United We Ride – One Vision: One Call

United We Ride, an interagency federal initiative, in collaboration with the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility and the National Consortium on Human Service Transportation has just launched its newest community education campaign called “One Vision: One Call.” This campaign is advocating for all transportation consumers to have only one number to call for their transportation needs. The goal is to make life easier for riders by helping those who schedule rides to build a more streamlined, unified transportation system. The campaign consists of a PowerPoint slide show, a brochure, and talking points available to share with others. For more information please visit: http://www.unitedweride.gov/1_1207_ENG_HTML.htm.

American Red Cross of the National Capital Area Announces Pilot Course Training

The American Red Cross, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, has developed an on-line training course concerning Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism (WMD/T) and its affects on issues surrounding Mass Care (feeding, sheltering, community response, disaster mental health, etc.) for non-governmental organizations. This course is designed to increase your knowledge of WMD/T issues and how they affect how our community responds to disasters. This pilot course is FREE to community groups; however, the pilot course is only available until April 30th. To take this course, please visit http://www.redcrossdc.org/ServiceCenters/dcredcross.php3, create your own student ID, and choose "Washington, DC" as your home city.

2006 Biennial Assessment of the Disability Services System in Virginia by Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

FEMA Online Independent Study Program: IS-197 SP Special Needs Planning Considerations for Service and Support Providers

Course Overview: All individuals, advocacy groups, organizations, and institutions within the special needs service and support system are encouraged to be proactive and develop emergency plans. The purpose of this course is to provide representatives of the special needs service and support system with the basic information and tools to develop their own emergency plans.

This course is designed for people who work with the elderly and people with disabilities, and teaches how to partner with local Emergency Management to better prepare for all phases of an emergency.

Course Goals:

• Describe the impact of different types of hazards on special needs populations.
• Describe challenges during the different phases of an emergency.
• Explain how to develop emergency plans and work with emergency management and other local officials during the planning process for your local community.

To access the course please visit: http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS197SP.asp.

Virginia Governor Announces Grant to Promote Hiring of Individuals with Disabilities

Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced a two-year, $244,000 grant to Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU-RRTC) to promote public-private partnerships that will result in the employment of at least 20 individuals with disabilities by state government. The initiative, approved by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD), also includes training for rehabilitation professionals to develop more effective partnerships with private-sector staffing organizations that will increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For more information please visit: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=334.

Upcoming Events

April 9 – 10, 2007-03-02
Possibilities for Every Ability: 2007 Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities
Tulsa, Oklahoma
This two day conference will cover a variety of topics including: autism services; social security; Medicaid reform; Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) policy; positive behavioral intervention; effective individualized education plans (IEP); guardianship; inclusive child care; and emergency plans and preparedness. For more information call 1-800-836-4470 or visit: http://www.state.ok.us/~okddc/.

April 17-20, 2007
15th Annual VOAD Conference
Albuquerque, NM
Call For Workshop and Presentation Proposals Due December 8, 2006
Choose from beginning, intermediate or advanced levels of knowledge in any of the following four areas: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. All workshops are 90 minutes in length. To promote a great diversity of workshop topics, the following criteria will be used to select presentations: the spirit of coordination, collaboration, cooperation, and communication; content of presentation; emerging trends; and conference theme. For more information please visit: http://www.nvoad.org/annualconf1.php.

April 17 – 20, 2007
2007 Virginia Emergency Management Conference
Williamsburg, VA
The Virginia Emergency Management Conference is designed for professionals involved in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters from all hazards. This conference offers opportunities to learn from a variety of experts in business, public safety and, emergency management. For more information please visit: http://www.vdem.state.va.us/newsroom/events/vema2007.cfm.

June 4 – 7, 2007
FEMA's Emergency Management Institute Annual Conference
Emmitsburg, MD
FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is hosting the 10th Annual Invitational Emergency Management Conference, June 4-7, 2007, for representatives of colleges and universities that (1) have an existing hazard, disaster, emergency management program in place, or (2) are attempting to develop and implement a hazard, disaster, emergency management program on their campus (e.g., a degree, certificate, minor, or concentration). The primary goal of the invitational conference is to provide a forum for academics to discuss problems and issues surrounding hazard, disaster, and emergency management educational programs. For more information please visit: http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/educonference07.asp.

June 10 – 13, 2007
National Conference on Citizen Preparedness
Alexandria, VA
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), the National Association of Emergency Managers (NEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will jointly host the National Conference on Citizen Preparedness on June 10-13, 2007 in Alexandria, VA. Anyone interested in community and citizen preparedness is invited to attend. Conference participation is an allowable use of Citizen Corps grant funding from DHS.

Conference Objectives: Share best practices on community preparedness; get suggestions on how to reach out to specific population segments; learn innovative approaches to funding; hear updates on Department of Homeland Security initiatives; network with other Citizen Corps partners; find out how others are addressing liability issues Hear ideas on engaging elected officials; and listen to findings from citizen preparedness research.

More detailed information and online registration is available through the IAEM web site at: http://www.iaem.com/NCCC2007.htm.

August 6-7, 2007
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Annual Conference: Empowering Employers to Build an Inclusive Workforce
Crystal City, VA
For over 23 years, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has provided focused, trusted, and informed answers to these and other questions. This annual conference unites JAN consultants with featured speakers who have expertise in employment law, innovative employment practices, and disability issues. For more information please visit: http://conference.jan.wvu.edu/.

November 11 – 14, 2007
International Association for Emergency Managers (IAEM) 55th Annual Conference
Reno, NV
The IAEM Annual Conference provides a forum for current trends and topics, information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security, and advances IAEM committee work. Sessions encourage stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, public health, and related professions to exchange ideas on collaborating to protect lives and property from disaster. For more information please visit: http://www.iaem.com/.

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

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties oversees the implementation of Executive Order 13347, Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, which was signed by President Bush in July 2004. This Executive Order is designed to ensure the safety and security of individuals with disabilities in all-hazard emergency and disaster situations. To this end, the Executive Order created an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The ICC is comprised of senior leadership from more than 20 Federal departments and agencies. Its mission is to ensure that people with disabilities and their specific needs are fully integrated into all aspects of our nation's emergency management system; including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Secretary of Homeland Security is the Chair of the ICC, and he has delegated that role to Mr. Daniel Sutherland, the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The Council has concentrated its work in eight major areas:

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 http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov.