Disaster Preparedness for People With Disabilities

Glossary
Adaptive Equipment: Equipment that helps a person move, groom, or eat independently, such as mobility aids, grooming aids, feeding aids, and similar devices used to offset functional limits.
Augmentative Communication Device: A device used to help a person communicate by voice.
Blindness/Visual Disability: A visual condition that interferes with a person's ability to see or results in the absence of all sight.
Cognitive Impairment: A medical condition or injury that affects a person's ability to understand spoken or written information.
Communication Disability: A medical condition or injury that interferes with a person's ability to communicate by using one's voice.
Deafness/Hearing Disability: A medical condition or injury that interferes with a person's ability to hear sounds.
Evacuation Assistive Equipment: Equipment or devices used to help people leave a building in an emergency.
Mobility Disability: A medical condition or injury that impedes a person's ability to walk or move.
Personal Assessment: A written list of your needs and your resources for meeting these needs in an environment affected by a disaster.
Personal Care Assistance: The help you accept from someone to meet your daily personal needs (bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking, feeding).
Personal Support Network/Self-Help Team: A group of people who will help you at your home, school, workplace, volunteer site, or any other location in which you spend a lot of time. Members of your support network can include roommates, relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers you trust. Your network must be able to check if you need assistance, know your capabilities and needs, and be able to help you within minutes.
Power-Dependent Equipment: Equipment that requires electricity to operate.
Service Animal: A specially-trained animal used by a person with a disability to help with daily
living. These animals are allowed by law to accompany their owners anywhere.
Warning: A "warning" means that the event is happening now, is going to happen, or has been observed on weather radar. You must act immediately to protect yourself.
Watch: A "watch" means that severe weather is threatening and may occur in your area. Listen to the radio or watch television for information and advice.

Appendix A
Return to Table of Contents