Tips for Seniors and People with Disabilities

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Tips for People Who Are Hearing Impaired or Have Communication and Speech Related Disabilities

[ En Español — Spanish version ]

Batteries

• Store extra batteries for hearing aids and implants. If available, store an extra hearing aid with emergency supplies
• Maintain TTY batteries (consult manual).
• Store extra batteries for your TTY and light phone signaler. Check the manual for proper battery maintenance.
• Obtain an alternative power source (i.e., power converter, batteries) if you use a computer or laptop computer as a means of frequent communication.

Hearing Aids

• Store hearing aid(s) in a strategic, consistent and secured location so they can be found and used after a quake.
• For example consider storing in a container by bedside which is attached to night stand or bed post using string or velcro. Missing or damaged hearing aids will be difficult to replace or fix immediately after a major disaster.

Alarms

• Install both audible alarms and visual smoke alarms. At least one should be battery operated.

Communication

• Determine how you will communicate with emergency personnel: if there is no interpreter; if you do not have your hearing aid(s) or your communication devices (augmentative communication device, word board, artificial larynx).
• Store copies of a word or letter board, paper and writing materials, pre-printed messages and key phrases specific to an anticipated emergency, in all your emergency kits, your wallet, purse, etc.
• Consider carrying pre-printed copy of key phrase messages with you such as 'I speak American Sign Language (ASL) and need an ASL interpreter,' 'I do not write or read English." "If you make announcements, I will need to have them written or signed."
• Make sure emergency health information card explains the best method to communicate with you, ie: written notes, pointing to letters/words/pictures, finding a quiet place.
• If possible, obtain a battery operated television that has a decoder chip for access to signed or captioned emergency reports.
• Determine which broadcasting systems will be accessible in terms of continuous news that will be captioned and/or signed. Advocate so that television stations have a plan to secure emergency interpreters for on camera
  emergency duty.

Advocacy

• Recruit interpreters to be Red Cross emergency volunteers.
• Maintain pressure on TV stations to broadcast all news and emergency information in open caption format.
• Ensure hotels have access packets for deaf and hearing impaired persons, including audible alarms, when you travel. Ask for them when you check in.