communicATor

People with disabilities have typically been overlooked when planning for an emergency/disaster response, resulting in the response community not always knowing how to interact with different members of the community, and how to help them during a response.

The Center for Innovative Design and Engineering (CIDE) is currently collaborating with multiple Offices of Emergency Management across Colorado to assist in providing unique educational opportunities. Emergency disaster exercises consist of “hands-on, reality-based training to ensure that key personnel understand their roles, know how to effectively communicate, and address emergency situations effectively and efficiently.”

Individuals of all ages and with all types of limitations are being recruited to participate in different emergency/disaster exercises as role players with lived experience at different times throughout the year. We need more participation from the disability community to ensure authentic representation, greater visibility, and to help response teams be prepared for their presence during an incident. You can provide them with an enlightening opportunity to learn how to effectively interact with members of the disability community in a real-life situation.

CIDE is developing a database of interested individuals to provide to emergency managers to enhance their emergency exercises. If you would like to get involved, please contact Julia Beems at [email protected] to be added to our database. When an outside agency (such as a local emergency management office) requests participants, CIDE simply shares the opportunity. Once you have responded to a request, your name will be provided to the emergency manager.

Emergency Preparedness Coordinator: Julia Beems