Conference Introduction

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For more information and resources about
Emergency Management and Individuals with Disabilities and the Elderly
visit the Web site:
WWW. ADD-IDEA- EM.ORG

Welcome!

During June 2006, more than 400 state delegates and others assembled in Washington, D.C. for the Working Conference on Emergency Management and Individuals with Disabilities and the Elderly. This site provides a complete description of that event, including reports, transcripts, presentations, and other relevant materials.

Background
One of the key lessons of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is that all levels of rescue image government, working closely with the private sector, must ensure that the emergency management process fully integrates the needs and talents of the communities of individuals with the full range of disabilities, and the elderly. With the hurricane lessons learned and with the national priority to prepare for a flu pandemic, now is the time to bring together State experts in disability, aging, and emergency management to learn about what works, formulate State teams, take a critical look at State emergency planning processes and identify how they may be strengthened with regard to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

Purpose
The working conference was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS). Its purpose was to bring together Governor-appointed State teams to connect State emergency management officials with key disability and aging experts to work toward integration of efforts within their jurisdiction’s emergency management framework; to facilitate cooperative planning with senior officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency regions; and to identify and institute measurable outcomes and systems for tracking results.

Structure and Content
This conference was unique both because of its content and its structure. This first of its kind conference was exceptional, with presentations by key national leaders on the complex issues facing the disability and aging populations in the face of natural or man-made disasters. Senior officials from both HHS and DHS made keynote presentations and were joined by colleagues from other Federal agencies. The top experts from state and local governments and the private sector also addressed this conference.

The unique structure of the conference brought together Governor-appointed teams from each State to connect emergency management officials with key leaders from the disability and aging communities. These teams worked together during the conference to identify ways to integrate their work within their jurisdictions' emergency management framework. Senior officials from each of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s regions were present, which facilitated cooperative planning among State and Federal officials. This team structure allowed for identification and implementation of measurable outcomes and tracking systems in the States.

Attendance – Invitation Only
Attendance was by invitation only, for attendees with requested skills and responsibilities. Each State was asked to send four or five individuals, representing aging, the State special needs task force, health, emergency management, and homeland security. From each State, an individual representing the disability perspective, selected by grantees of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ACF/HHS), also was requested to be part of the State delegation. Participants had the knowledge, authority, and responsibility to contribute to the emergency preparedness and planning process in their State in addressing issues related to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

Expectations for Delegate Participation Conference
The expectation of participants was that they:

Come prepared to the conference by reading materials assigned and provided ahead of time, so that time is maximized at the conference;
Complete assignments each night of the conference to realize gains toward the next day’s objectives;
Develop the next steps for when they return home to continue progress on strengthening their State emergency management process as it relates to people with disabilities and the elderly; and
Complete quarterly ‘homework’ assignments following the working conference to share progress they have made in establishing and putting into action recommendations they developed over the three days.

Conference Coordinators
Patricia A. Morrissey, Ph.D., Commissioner
Administration on Developmental Disabilities,
Administration on Children & Families,
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
(202) 690-6590

Daniel W. Sutherland, the Officer For Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Department of Homeland Security
(202) 357-8306

Conference Logistic Support
The firms involved in operations and content conference planning include:
Joanne Barnes, President, Enterprise Services & Technologies, Inc.
Elizabeth A. Davis, Managing Director, EAD & Associates, LLC

Logo of EAD and Associates