Functional Needs Support Services (FNSS)

1. Functional Needs Support Services (FNSS) 2012 OEP Directors Conference ONE SIZE DON’T FIT ALL Introducing---- Ms. Minnie Kneads (Many Needs)

2. Introductions • PRSENTERS: • Joan Guillory • Jeanne Abadie • Evon Smith aka. Ms. Minnie Kneads

3. Emergency Management Disability and Aging Coalition (EMDAC) Audience • Show of hands -- How many were around as an emergency manager during Katrina/Rita; Gustav/Ike?

4. Whole Community Planning: • Which includes planning for People with Access and Functional Needs

5. Visual impairments • Hearing impairments • Mobility impairments • People with special dietary needs • People with medical conditions • People with intellectual disabilities • People with dementia

6. Other Access and Functional Needs Identified by FEMA • Single working parents • Non-English speaking persons • People without vehicles

7. Whole Community Planning Key Principles • Equal opportunity to benefits • Inclusion • Integration • Physical access • Equal access • Effective communication • Program modifications • No Charge Whole Community Planning means “No One Left Behind”

8. Equal Opportunity to Benefits Equal opportunity policies refer to a number of laws enacted at the federal level, which prohibit any type of organization from denying inclusion or membership to a person based on sex, race, age, or disability. Read more: What Are the Benefits of Equal Opportunity Policies? | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/facts_5765399_benefits-equal-opportunity-policies_.html#ixzz1d3IBCsVI

9. Planning for the Whole Community • Public Information • Evacuation • Sheltering

10. Know Your Community • Local Resources • State Resources • National Resources • Online Resources

11. Online Resources Mobile Tips for First Responders: disabilitytips.tamu.edu Developed by Laura Stough Research and Education on Disability and Disaster at Texas A&M stough@tamu.edu

12. Online Resource, cont. accessibleemergencyinfo.com Developed by Stephanie Walker with Northeast Texas Public Health District 903-729-7780 stephanie.walker@talho.org

13. Planning for the Whole Community: Public Information (examples*) • When sending out emergency announcements via phone lines, also send out text messages. • When a public official is providing information relevant to a disaster, have a sign language interpreter there, and show that interpreter on the television screen. *This is not an exhaustive list, merely a few examples for today's discussion.

14. Planning for the Whole Community: Public Information (examples*) • Do not just provide messages on a scroll at the bottom of the screen. Make sure messages are audible. • If providing transportation for evacuees, provide lift equipped buses.

15. Planning for the Whole Community: Evacuation (examples*) • During an evacuation, do not separate a person from his/her mobility device • *Allow service animals to stay with their owners. *This is not an exhaustive list, merely a few examples for today's discussion.

16. Planning for the Whole Community: Sheltering (examples*) • Assure that shelters are accessible to people with disabilities. • Provide personal assistance to people with disabilities residing in disaster shelters. • Provide messages to shelter residents in different formats (audible; written; different languages) *This is not an exhaustive list, merely a few examples for today's discussion.

17. Functional Needs Support Services (FNSS) • Services that enable individuals to maintain their independence.

18. Functional Needs Support Services Includes: (not limited to) • Reasonable modification to policies practices, and procedures • Durable medical equipment • Consumable medical supplies • Personal assistance services • Other goods or services as needed

19. Equal Opportunity to Benefits Sha, jus caus I’m an old maid you don’t have to tell me I need to go fine sumone to brung wit me to dis shelter. If I had a man I showounten want to be here, I can day dream of tings I could be doin I aint done for 65 years.. You know jus caus I gots this walker don’t mean I cant get around and try to hep myself.

20. Inclusion People with disabilities have the right to participate in and receive the benefits of emergency programs, services, and activities provided by governments, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Inclusion of people with various types of disabilities in planning, training, and evaluation of programs and services will ensure that all people are given appropriate consideration during emergencies.

21. Inclusion Babe, I sho want to tell you how happy I am dat you don’t push me in a corner and treat me like I’m a outcass jus because I gots so many needs. My nerves is so much more relapsed when I tink I am Jus like erryone else.

22. Integration Emergency programs, services, and activities typically must be provided in an integrated setting. The provision of services such as sheltering, information intake for disaster services, and short-term housing in integrated settings keeps people connected to their support system and caregivers and avoids the need for disparate services facilities.

23. Physical Access Physical Access – Emergency programs, services, and activities must be provided at locations that all people can access, including people with disabilities. People with disabilities should be able to enter and use emergency facilities and access the programs, services, and activities that are provided. Facilities typically required to be accessible include: parking, drop-off areas, entrances and exits, security screening areas, toilet rooms, bathing facilities, sleeping areas, dining facilities, areas where medical care or human services are provided, and paths of travel to and from and between these areas.

24. Equal Access People with disabilities must be able to access and benefit from emergency programs, services, and activities equal to the general population. Equal access applies to emergency preparedness, notification of emergencies, evacuation, transportation, communication, shelter, distribution of supplies, food, first aid, medical care, housing, and application for and distribution of benefits.

25. Effective Communication People with disabilities must be given information that is comparable in content and detail to that given to the general public. It must also be accessible, understandable and timely. Auxiliary aids and services may be needed to ensure effective communication. These resources may include pen and paper; sign language interpreters through on-site or video; and interpretation aids for people who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or have speech impairments. People who are blind, deaf-blind, have low vision, or have cognitive disabilities may need large print information or people to assist with reading and filling out forms.

26. Effective Communication • Babe, quits hollorin so loud – I’m blind, NOT DEAF!

27. Program Modifications People with disabilities must have equal access to emergency programs and services, which may entail modifications to rules, policies, practices, and procedures. Service staff may need to change the way questions are asked, provide reader assistance to complete forms or provide assistance in a more accessible location.

28. No Charge People with disabilities may not be charged to cover the costs of measures necessary to ensure equal access and nondiscriminatory treatment. Examples of accommodations provided without charge to the individual may include ramps; cots modified to address disability-related needs; a visual alarm; grab bars; additional storage space for medical equipment; lowered counters or shelves; Braille and raised letter signage; a sign language interpreter; a message board; assistance in completing forms or documents in Braille, large print or audio recording.

29. THANK YOU! FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeanne Abadie Advocacy Center 8325 Oak Street New Orleans, Louisiana 504-522-2337, ext. 130 504-522-5507 jabadie@advocacyla.org www.advocacyla.org Joan Guillory Emergency Management Disability and Aging Coalition 504-352-5903 guillory.joan@gmail.com Evon M. Smith, NRP aka. Ms. Minnie Kneads 985-974-9688 evon.smith@la.gov