CDIHP Develops Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities
In an effort to save lives, the Center for
Disability Issues and the Health Professions (CDIHP) at Western
University of Health Sciences has developed an emergency evacuation
preparedness guide for people with disabilities and others whose activity
limitations may affect their ability to safely evacuate buildings during
disasters.
“”If we just rely on employers, building managers, or fire inspectors to
make sure things are in place, it may or may not happen,”” said June
Isaacson Kailes, MSW, LCSW, the guide’s author and CDIHP associate
director, who is known internationally for her disability-related work in
access, health and wellness, aging and disaster preparedness. “”People
with disabilities must take an assertive, proactive approach to ensure
that our life safety needs are included in all emergency planning.
“”No matter what laws and public policies say, it’s up to us as people with
disabilities to individually and collectively do what we need to do to
prepare for disasters,”” Kailes said.
The 36-page guide is a one-stop resource for people with disabilities and
others to make informed decisions that may affect their lives. The guide
stresses the need for readers to include safety planning in their lives by
getting involved in the evacuation planning process and regularly
practicing the procedures.
“”Particularly in this post-9/11 world, people with disabilities must take
responsibility for their own safety,”” said Brenda Premo, MBA, CDHIP
director. “”There is a universal human tendency to avoid thinking about
possible emergencies. This avoidance has greater consequences for people
with disabilities than for people without disabilities.””
According to 2000 Census information, more than 54 million people in the
United States have some form of disability, with those with a significant
disability estimated at more than 27 million. In addition, 50 percent of
the population over the age of 65 has some form of disability. People
with asthma, broken bones, heart conditions, joint pain, reduced vision
when contacts and glasses are not available, as well as women in later-
stage pregnancy and other activity limiting conditions also will find the
booklet useful.
In 2002, the CDIHP received a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America
Foundation to print an initial 2,500 copies of the guide for distribution
in California. The center was recently awarded a $10,000 Quality of Life
Grant from the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF), which will
help to fund distribution of thousands of emergency evacuation
preparedness guides to people with spinal cord injuries nationwide. In
addition to printing more hard copies for national distribution, plans
call for the guide to be available as a CD-ROM.
An electronic version of the guide is available at no cost at http://www.cdihp.org. To obtain a hard copy,
send a check for $24.00 payable to: Center for Disability Issues and the
Health Professions and Western University of Health Sciences 309 E. 2nd
St., Pomona, California. The price includes shipping, handling and
applicable tax.
About the Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions and
Western University of Health Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences established the CDIHP in 1998 in
response to the concerns of the disability community, which is one of the
nation’s fastest growing and least understood minority groups. The CDIHP
has an ongoing commitment to the development of curricula and training
modules that assist health care professionals in understanding the issues
facing people with disabilities and learning how to provide quality care.
Located in Pomona, California, Western University of Health Sciences is an
independent, accredited, non-profit university, granting post-
baccalaureate professional degrees in health sciences disciplines.
