A few weeks ago, I presented to a group of emergency management professionals during Emergency Preparedness Week on a few accessibility issues in two of the four pillars of the emergency management cycle. A recording of the session will be available for viewing on YouTube–stay tuned for the link at a later date!
Three key areas of focus discussed are as follows:
- Emergency Preparedness webinars/presentations–understanding the audience’s communication needs (ie: congenitally/adventitiously deafblind population with differing language barriers)
- Risk Management–considering the publics’ understanding of the differing terms of risks and hazards, especially with individuals with language limitations. How is the information presented? Is it available in alternate formats?
- Exercise Management–encouraging organizations to invite individuals with disabilities to participate or observe full-scale table-top exercises to see what gaps are not being addressed.
In future presentations, I’ll address accessibility considerations for the response and recovery phase. If you or your organization is interested in having me consult on the above three areas, please contact me via the “Contact Us” form or via email at jlm.accessconsulting@gmail.com