Information for People with Disabilities

In 2003, the American Red Cross launched its Together We Prepare program -- a nationwide effort to prepare every American for a disaster or national emergency. The Together We Prepare program highlights five important steps everyone should take to prepare for a disaster: make a plan, build a kit, get trained, volunteer and give blood.

Resources are now available to assist people with disabilities. Along with the Red Cross, which provides many resource tools to supply emergency preparedness information to people with disabilities, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) provides numerous guides, tips, checklists and strategies for reaching people with disabilities as well.

Below is a list of redcross.org and NOD websites that may assist people with disabilities during an emergency. Please visit www.NOD.org for more information about the National Organization on Disability.

Resources from RedCross.org

Sign Language for Emergency Situations – in PDF format

Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities - in PDF format; click here to download this document in text format

First Aid/CPR/AED Products Available in Braille – The American Red Cross of Northeastern New York has translated certain products from their First Aid/CPR/AED program into Braille

Tips for Talking with the Hard of Hearing

The Disability Task Force – introduces the purpose and members of the disability task force

Tips for People with Special Needs and Concerns – includes tips on how to assist people with visual, hearing/speech, cognitive/psychiatric and mobility disabilities and environmental illness/chemical sensitivities, information on life support systems, a checklist and information on collecting emergency documents

Resources from NOD.org

Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Guide – this guide, available in many formats, focuses on developing emergency evacuation preparedness plans that take into account the needs of people with disabilities and activity limitations

Assisting People with Disabilities in a Disaster – this tip-sheet from FEMA provides guidelines on how to assist people with disabilities during and after a disaster

Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home – in PDF format; this brochure, written by the United Spinal Association, emphasizes the evacuation protocol for wheelchair users from work and home

Fire Risks for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing – in PDF format, click here for the text version; this guide presents safety tips for the deaf or hard of hearing before and during a fire and fire prevention

Fire Risks for the Blind or Visually Impaired – in PDF format, click here for the text version; this guide presents safety tips for the blind or visually impaired before and during a fire and fire prevention

Fire Risks for the Mobility Impaired – in PDF format, click here for the text version; this guide presents safety tips for the mobility impaired before and during a fire and fire prevention

Tips for All People With Disabilities - the following checklists were developed by the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco , with support from the American Red Cross Northern California Disaster Preparedness Response Network. Originally designed for earthquake preparedness, they offer useful disability preparedness information for any kind of emergency.

Tips for People with Mobility Disabilities

Tips for People With Communication and Speech Related Disabilities

Tips for People With Psychiatric Disabilities

Tips for People With Cognitive Disabilities

Tips for People Who Are Hearing Impaired

Tips for People With Visual Disabilities

Tips for People with Environmental Illness or Chemical Sensitivities

Tips for People Who Use Life Support Systems (Dialysis, Respirator, Oxygen, Suction, Intravenous Pump or Infusion Therapy)

Tips for Service Animals and Pet Owners