Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your Safety A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations

About the Guide’s Sponsor

Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions

The Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions (CDIHP) at Western University of Health Sciences, in Pomona, California, works to enhance health professions education, and to improve access for people with disabilities to health, health education and health care services.

Western University established CDIHP in 1998 in response to the concerns of the disability community, which is one of the nation's fastest growing and least understood minority groups. The Center focuses on:

• Improving the capabilities of health care providers to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

• Increasing the number of qualified individuals with disabilities who pursue careers in the health professions.

• Supporting people with disabilities in becoming more vocal and active participants in their health care.

• Conducting and disseminating research on community based health education, prevention and health care services for people with disabilities.

• CDIHP sponsors educational activities and curriculum development for health professionals serving people with disabilities. The Center also conducts applied research to develop continuing education programs for current health care providers. These activities are designed to improve patient care delivery through advocating basic changes in social and policy issues affecting the health of people with disabilities. To learn more visit http://www.cdihp.org

Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions

Western University of Health Sciences

309 E. Second Street/College Plaza, Pomona, California 91766‑1854

909.469.5380

E-mail evac@westernu.edu 

About the Guide’s Author:

June Isaacson Kailes has operated a full‑time consulting practice since 1989. She consults, writes and trains on: ADA implementation, advocacy training and skills building; health, wellness and aging with disability; developing and analyzing disability-related public policy; planning barrier free meetings, disability diversity training, reaching the disability market; customer service and product design, accessible telecommunication, disaster preparedness for people with disabilities and incorporating universal design and usability principles into existing and new environments.  She has received many awards and written over 80 publications including: A Guide to Planning Accessible Meetings, Be a Savvy Health Care Consumer - Your Life May Depend on It! and Health, Wellness, and Aging with Disability.

June is also well known for her national and international work in disaster preparedness for people with disabilities. Her publications Living and Lasting on Shaky Ground: An Earthquake Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities, is distributed by California Office of Emergency Safety and Creating a Disaster - Resistant Infrastructure for People at Risk Including People with Disabilities is used and published in several countries.

She held many offices on the boards of the National Council of Independent Living and the California Foundation of Independent Living Centers and served as the Executive Director of the Westside Center for Independent Living in Los Angeles. June has a presidential appointment to the United States Access Board and has served as both its Vice Chair and Chair.  To learn more about June, visit www.jik.com.

Acknowledgements

CDIHP is grateful to the Bank of America Foundation for recognizing the importance of these life safety issues.

This Guide is enriched by the work of a diverse group of talented reviewers. Their contributions are reflected on every page. For their generous giving of time, attention to details, and thorough content reviews of various sections. The author gratefully acknowledges and thanks:

Jacquelyn Brand, President, Independent Living Network, San Rafael, California

Lane Braver, PA-C, Master of Science in Health Professions Education, Department Chair, Medical Services, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, California.

Michael Collins, Executive Director, California’s Statewide Independent Living Council, Sacramento, California

Paula Dunn, RID Certified Sign Language Interpreter, Garden Grove, California

Alexandra Enders, OTR, Senior Research Associate, RTC Rural:  Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation , University of Montana, Missoula,

Pam Holmes, Director, Consumer & Regulatory Affairs, Ultratec, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin

Edwina Juillet, Consultant, Fire and Life Safety for People with Disabilities, Luray, Virginia

Kenneth Gerhart, PT, MS, Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado

Mary Lester, Executive Director, Alliance for Technology Access, San Rafael, California

Tina M. Meyer, LPTA, PA-C, Clinical Consultant, Faculty, CDIHP, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California.

Susan Molloy, M.A., Disability Policy Consultant, Snowflake, Arizona

Brenda Premo, MBA, Director, Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions at Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California.