CERT Conference March 2, 2013 K athryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT

1. How to Improve your CERT Program by Incorporating Seniors and People with Access and Functional Needs CERT Conference March 2, 2013 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT James Caesar, UCSB/Isla Vista CERT and Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT Tips for Full Inclusion CERT Conference March 2, 2013

2. Introductions • Kathryn Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT • James Caesar, UCSB/Isla Vista CERT • Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire - CERT

3. Welcome…. • Your Name • Your Jurisdiction • Do you know what AFN is • Have you incorporated AFN in your CERT program? How or why not…

4. Audience • Your Goals for this workshop? • Your level of CERT incorporation of Seniors and People with Access and Functional Needs?

5. What we will cover; • Basic ADA issues and full inclusion for CERT Programs • Challenges and best practices for incorporating Seniors and PAFN • The Good, the Bad and The Misunderstood!

6. Basic ADA Issues and CERT Considerations • Accessible Curriculum – Print • Accessible Training • Accessible Facilities • Always consider your audience

7. Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Curriculum Print • Accessible CERT Workbooks • Braille • English • Spanish • Large print • Others

8. Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Training • Accessibility to ALL • Always identify your audience • At or BEFORE registration if possible • Do you have any special requirements

9. Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Training/Drills • ALWAYS Safety First – work with student – ask what they feel comfortable with and what they need • Consider CERT Workgroups bring Persons with Disabilities to table – include them in planning

10. Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Facilities • Be Prepared - know your audience • SAFETY FIRST • Accessibility • Mobility issues • Lighting • Audio

11. Tips and Best Practices • Always treat everyone with respect • Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing • Include them in your planning • “Nothing about us without us”

12. 1. Assessment • 5. Review & Revise Actions • 2. Build Work Groups • 4. Collaboratively Address the Action Items – Training & Drills • 3. Develop Action Items Continuous Improvement

13. Total Inclusion • FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate • FULL Inclusion • Planning • Training • Communications • Transportation • Response and Recovery

14. Lessons Learned from Past Disasters • Hurricane Katrina • People left behind • Unprepared and unable to fend for self • Poor communications ability • Disconnected from the community Superdome – Photograph Courtesy – Alison Wright

15. Hurricane Sandy

16. How can CERT help? • Buddy System in the Neighborhood • CERT Training for all – Empower all • More Resilient Neighborhoods

17. CERT Training for ALL • Instructors • Planning • Drills - include them in planning drills • CERT Job for everyone • From Incident Commander to Scribe

18. CERT Buddy System CERT’s Pair up with Seniors and PAFN in neighborhood – • Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster • Strengthens the neighborhood • Speeds up recovery efforts

19. Disability vs. Ability • Mobility • Communication • Hearing • Sight • Resilient • Know the community • Eyes & ears of neighborhood • Experience with daily challenges

20. Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Training • Work with Independent Living Resource Agencies • Develop relationships with Visiting Nurses Associations • Work with your local Operational Area and American Red Cross • Learn your district – Develop Relationships

21. The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood • The Good – Everyone can have a position on a team

22. The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood • The Bad Don’t try and change the program because of the need, keep the program the same to assist with the need City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12

23. The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood • Misunderstood People with AFN can’t do CERT City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12

24. Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Exercises • Add them to your CERT Planning Team • Get them involved in creating the scenario

25. Best Practices on how to incorporate • Network • Network • Network…

26. Questions and Fears around full inclusion? • Liability • Disaster Service Worker criteria • Misunderstanding around AFN

27. Best Practices • Independent Living Resource Center Drill • Santa Barbara County All CERT Drill in Lompoc, CA

28. Lessons Learned • Everyone can play a part • Knowing the limits of all your players • Understanding the facilities you are working and teaching in • Treat everyone as if there are no limits

29. Best Practices for Communicating • Yes and No questions • Paper and pen • Charts/pictograms – point to . . . • Pre printed forms – what is your name, what happened . . . .

30. 1. Speak directly to them • 2. Always identify yourself to someone with a visual impairment • 3. Treat adults as adults • 4. If you offer assistance listen for the answer • 5. Place yourself at eye level when speaking • 6. Tap a person with hearing disability on shoulder to get attention 10 Commandments for Communicating with PWD

31. Best Practices for Communicating Deaf • Learn ASL (American Sign Language) • Pictograms • Charts • Pencil and Paper • Tap on shoulder • Flash a light

32. Above and Beyond • Get Informed • Make a Plan • Build a Kit • Share it with family, neighborhood CERT • Buddy System = Strong resilient neighborhoods

33. We are all in this together • Right thing to do • Right time • For the Good of the whole community

34. QUESTIONS?Thank You • Working together increases everyone's chances for survival