Integrating and coordinating emergency preparedness, response and recovery for children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs before, during and after a disaster. (PDF 2MB, TXT 14KB)
Belief
When communities integrate the needs of children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into their community-wide planning initiatives, they maximize resources, meet their obligations and strengthen their ability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.
Mission
In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and regulations, provide guidance, tools, methods and strategies to integrate and coordinate emergency management inclusive of individuals with access and functional needs.
Preparedness Resources
- Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters (PDF 7.31MB TXT 467KB)
- Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 Version 2.0 (PDF 1.9MB, TXT 640KB)
- Preparedness Resources for Individuals
- Preparedness Resources for Communities
- Tools for Communicating With All Audiences, Including People with Disabilities
Apply for Assistance
- Online
- Phone: (800) 621-3362
- (TTY) 1-800-462-7585
- Information FEMA Needs From You
- FAQ’s on Federal Disaster Aid in American Sign Language
Other Disaster Resources
- Disaster Recovery Center Locations
- Find Rental Resources
- Disaster News and Information
- Donate with Purpose
Office of Disability Integration and Coordination Communications List
To be added or removed from the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) email distribution list, please send your name, email address, city and state to FEMA-disability-integration-coordination with the subject field “Add/Remove - Distribution List”
Office of Disability Integration and Coordination News
Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversaries
7/26/2012 22nd Anniversary of Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
This law protects the civil rights of more than 56 million Americans, or 20 percent of the population, who have physical, mobility, hearing, vision, speech, and cognitive, intellectual and mental health disabilities. Since the ADA was signed, many improvements have been made to eliminate barriers for people with disabilities; however, many still face obstacles that limit their health, safety and independence, especially in the midst of unexpected emergencies, or even worse, catastrophic events. FEMA is working to ensure equal opportunity for children and adults with disabilities and others who also have access and functional needs. Our mission extends to the whole community as we support our citizens and first responders to improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
11/9/2011 FIRST NATIONWIDE TEST OF THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
As part of our larger efforts to strengthen our nation’s preparedness and resiliency, the Federal Communications Commission and FEMA conducted the first nation-wide test of the Emergency Alert System November 9. Testing the Emergency Alert System played a key role in evaluating and improving the systems we need in place to ensure that our nation is prepared for all hazards and that people within its borders are able to receive critical and vital information through the system, should it ever be needed.
- FEMA Administrator’s Message – In English
- FEMA Administrator’s Message – In Spanish
- FEMA Press Release
- FEMA Blog
- FCC Website
The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States, if needed, to address the American public during emergencies. It is another critical communications tool that can protect the public and strengthen our nation’s resiliency. The National Weather Service, governors, and state and local authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts. The test was an important exercise in ensuring that the system is effective in communicating critical information to the public in the event of a real national emergency.
In advance of the Emergency Alert System test, on April 25, 2011 the FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination with FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and the Federal Communications Commission met with the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center and were presented with findings and recommendations from field trials and focus groups that examined accessible EAS and Commercial Mobile Alert System alerts to wireless devices. Preliminary findings on the use of social media by those with access and functional needs were also presented. To view the results, visit the Wireless RERC website.
9/12/2011: The “Getting Real II” Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community Conference focused on building partnerships and sharing promising practices. From September 12-14, 2011, participants learned about programs and efforts across the country that reflect FEMA's commitment to ensuring the whole community is involved with emergency planning. The Conference-On-Demand video webcast has more than 40 best practices in inclusive emergency management nationwide and features local, regional, state and federal emergency managers, disability community advocates and educators at all levels. Each video can be shared, and all presentations are downloaded via PDF and TXT files. The videos are available at gettingreal-ii.webcaston.tv
From September 22-24, 2010, FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination hosted "Getting Real" - 2010 Inclusive Emergency Management National Capacity Building Training Conference Webinar. The event featured cross-training and bridge-building in inclusive emergency preparedness practices and was attended by members of the disability and emergency management communities. It involved post-training responsibility to engage and educate others on how to effectively collaborate in emergency preparedness and disaster response and recovery.
06/22/2011: St. Petersburg College's National Terrorism Preparedness Institute, a division of the Center for Public Safety Innovation, hosted a Webcast/Satellite Broadcast on the FEMA/DHS initiative, Planning for the Whole Community. This broadcast can be viewed by visiting the Live Response website. The program highlighted ODIC and explained the importance of including people with access and functional needs in emergency and disaster planning. Guests included Marcie Roth, Director, FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination; Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation; and June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant/Associate Director at Western University in California.
03/11/2011: FEMA And National Disability Rights Network Sign Agreement To Strengthen Emergency Management Collaboration FEMA and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) signed a memorandum of agreement that further strengthens their growing partnership to ensure that the access and functional needs of people with disabilities are incorporated into all aspects of planning for, responding to and recovering from disasters.
08/04/10: Region VIII Administrator Is Committed To Integrating The Disability Community Into FEMA’s Mission
07/19/2010: FEMA Administrator Fugate And National Council On Independent Living Sign Memorandum Of Agreement FEMA, NCIL Mark the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
06/15/2010: Marcie Roth, Director of ODIC, testified before the House Homeland Committee’s Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response.