Assistive Technology and Access for People with Functional Needs:
A Focus on Emergency Management for the Whole Community
Agenda
8:00
Registration
9:00
Introduction to FEMA Region III Regional Administrator
Dan Stoneking, External Affairs Director, FEMA Region III
9:05
Opening remarks and welcome
MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator, FEMA Region III
9:10
Introduction to the Gathering: Objectives
Amy Goldman, Co-Executive Director, Institute on Disabilities at Temple
University
Desired Outcomes:
1. Develop a new ‘connection’ with at least one attendee who can provide
resources and support to facilitate the integration of access and functional
needs in emergency management
2. Be able to list three considerations and/or resources when planning for the
provision of assistive technology and durable medical equipment for
people affected by a disaster
3. Identify tools and resources to assist in providing equal access to
communication
4. Identify one solution to existing barriers in emergency preparedness for
the whole community
5. Commit to one action step subsequent to this event
9:25
Integrating Access and Functional Needs into Emergency Management
Marcie Roth, Director, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination
Topics:
1. Legal mandates to ensure disability integration in emergency
management
2. Principles and practices of whole community in emergency management
3. “Best practices” for disability integration and collaborative community
approaches to response and recovery activities
10:10 Panel One: Providing Accessible Alerting/Messaging in the Response and
Recovery Phases of Emergency Management
Panel Moderator:
LesleyAnne Ezelle, Regional Disability Integration Specialist, FEMA
Region III
Panel:
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Sharon Behun, Director, Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing
Scott White, Director of Sponsored Technology Programs,National
Federation for the Blind
Charles W McCobb, Program Manager, Integrated Public & Alert
Warning System (IPAWS), FEMA
Topics:
1. Tools, strategies and responsibilities for equal access communication
2. The role of audio news services in providing alerts and messaging for
people who are blind or have low vision
3. The IPAWS system
11:15 Panel Two: Distribution of Durable Medical Equipment in Response and
Recovery - Matching, Finding, Paying and Moving
Panel Moderator:
Amy Goldman, Co-Executive Director, Institute on Disabilities at Temple
University
Panel:
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Michael Senycz, Chief, Individual Assistance Branch FEMA Region III,
Jamie Arasz Prioli, Assistive Technology Specialist, Institute on
Disabilities Temple University
Kathy Fulton, Director of Operations, American Logistics Aid Network
(A.L.A.N)
Topics:
1. Provisions for durable medical equipment for survivors during the
planning, response and recovery phases
2. Utilizing the state Assistive Technology Act network and reuse programs
to support disaster survivor recovery
3. Matching assistive technology and durable medical equipment to disaster
survivors with access and functional needs.
4. Barriers and solutions to the transportation of durable medical equipment
12:15 -1:15 Lunch Break
1:15
Panel Three: Long-term Recovery and Disability leaders
Panel Moderator:
Anthony Buller, FEMA Voluntary Liaison, FEMA Region III,
Panel:
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David Hoge, Director, West Virginia Homeland Security State
Administrative Agency
The Rev. Phillip Huber, Disaster Preparedness and Response Coordinator
for Delaware and Maryland Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries
Bill Evans, Regional Emergency Management Specialist, Health and
Human Services/Administration for Children and Families
Lesleyanne Ezelle, Regional Disability Integration Specialist, FEMA
Region III
Topics:
1. Setting up Long Term Recovery Committees that provide for the whole
community
2. Developing collaborative community networks to support Long Term
Recovery Committees in addressing the access and functional needs of
survivors
3. Provision of inclusive Disaster Case Management
2:15
Panel Four: Disability Integration and Funding Initiatives
Panel Moderator:
Dan Stoneking, External Affairs Director, FEMA Region III
Panel:
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Janice Barlow, Grants Division Director, FEMA Region III
David Hoge, Director, West Virginia Homeland Security State
Administrative Agency
Kathy Fulton, Director of Operations, American Logistics Aid Network
(ALAN)
Kate Deschiso Manager, Emergency Response, Americares
3:00 – 3:15 Break
3:15
Panel Discussion (continued)
Topics:
1. Federal and State Grant Opportunities
2. Identifying your State Grants Manager
3. How the grants process addressed federal mandates to integrate service
provision for individuals with access and functional needs
4. How the private sector and non-profit agencies support integrated
emergency management
4:15
Next steps, commitments and wrap up
Facilitator:
LesleyAnne Ezelle, Regional Disability Integration Specialist, FEMA
Region III
4:30
Conference Concludes