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 CERTJames Caesar, UCSB/Isla Vista CERT andYolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT

CERT Conference March 2, 2013 1

Tips for Full Inclusion

IntroductionsKathryn Gerk, Richmond Fire

CERT

James Caesar, UCSB/Isla Vista CERT

Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire - CERT

2

Welcome….Your NameYour JurisdictionDo you know what AFN isHave you incorporated AFN in

your CERT program? How or why not…

3

AudienceYour Goals for this workshop?

Your level of CERT incorporation of Seniors and People with Access and Functional Needs?

4

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!

5

Basic ADA Issues and CERT Considerations

Accessible Curriculum – Print

Accessible Training

Accessible Facilities

Always consider your audience

6

Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Curriculum PrintAccessible CERT Workbooks

◦Braille◦English◦Spanish◦Large print◦Others

7

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

8

Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Training/DrillsALWAYS 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

9

Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Facilities

Be Prepared - know your audience

SAFETY FIRST◦Accessibility◦Mobility issues◦Lighting◦Audio

10

Tips and Best PracticesAlways treat everyone with

respect

Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing

Include them in your planning◦“Nothing about us without us”

11

Continuous Improvement

12

4. Collaboratively Address the Action Items – Training & Drills

3. Develop Action Items

2. Build Work Groups

5. Review & Revise Actions

1. Assessment

Total InclusionFEMA Administrator Craig FugateFULL Inclusion

◦Planning◦Training◦Communications◦Transportation◦Response and Recovery

13

Lessons Learned from Past Disasters

Hurricane Katrina◦People left behind◦Unprepared and unable to fend for

self◦Poor communications ability◦Disconnected from the community

14Superdome – Photograph Courtesy – Alison Wright

Hurricane Sandy

15

How can CERT help?Buddy System in the

Neighborhood

CERT Training for all – Empower all

More Resilient Neighborhoods

16

CERT Training for ALLInstructorsPlanningDrills - include them in planning

drillsCERT Job for everyone

◦From Incident Commander to Scribe

17

CERT Buddy System

CERT’s Pair up with Seniors and PAFN in neighborhood – Strengthens everyone's ability to

survive the next disasterStrengthens the neighborhoodSpeeds up recovery efforts

18

Disability vs. AbilityMobilityCommunicationHearingSight

ResilientKnow the

communityEyes & ears of

neighborhoodExperience with

daily challenges

19

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

20

The Good, The Bad and The MisunderstoodThe Good – Everyone can have a position on a

team

21

The BadDon’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 22

The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

Misunderstood

People with AFN can’t do CERT

City Manager's Office Preasentation 12/11/12 23

The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Exercises

Add them to your CERT Planning Team

Get them involved in creating the scenario

24

Best Practices on how to incorporateNetworkNetworkNetwork…

25

Questions and Fears around full inclusion?

LiabilityDisaster Service Worker criteriaMisunderstanding around AFN

26

Best PracticesIndependent Living Resource

Center DrillSanta Barbara County All CERT

Drill in Lompoc, CA

27

Lessons LearnedEveryone can play a partKnowing the limits of all your

playersUnderstanding the facilities you

are working and teaching inTreat everyone as if there are no

limits

28

Best Practices for CommunicatingYes and No questionsPaper and penCharts/pictograms – point to . . . Pre printed forms – what is your

name, what happened . . . .

29

10 Commandments for Communicating with PWD

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

30

Best Practices for Communicating DeafLearn ASL (American Sign

Language)PictogramsChartsPencil and PaperTap on shoulderFlash a light

31

Above and BeyondGet InformedMake a PlanBuild a KitShare it with family,

neighborhood CERTBuddy System = Strong resilient

neighborhoods

32

We are all in this together

Right thing to do

Right time

For the Good of the whole community

33

QUESTIONS?

Thank You

34

Working together increases everyone's chances for survival