Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x5gtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-06T01:21:14.066Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Educating First Responders to Provide Emergency Services to Individuals with Disabilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 December 2014

Susan B. Wolf-Fordham ,
Janet S. Twyman  and
Charles D. Hamad
Susan B. Wolf-Fordham*
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts Medical School, E.K. Shriver Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Janet S. Twyman
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts Medical School, E.K. Shriver Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Charles D. Hamad
Affiliation:
University of Massachusetts Medical School, E.K. Shriver Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Susan B. Wolf-Fordham, University of Massachusetts Medical School, E.K. Shriver Center, 465 Medford Street, 5th floor, Charlestown, MA 02129 (e-mail: susan.wolf-fordham@umassmed.edu).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

Individuals with disabilities experience more negative outcomes due to natural and manmade disasters and emergencies than do people without disabilities. This vulnerability appears to be due in part to knowledge gaps among public health and safety emergency planning and response personnel (responders). We assessed the effectiveness of an online program to increase emergency responder knowledge about emergency planning and response for individuals with disabilities.

Methods

Researchers developed an online course designed to teach public health, emergency planning and management, and other first response personnel about appropriate, efficient, and equitable emergency planning, response, interaction, and communication with children and adults with disabilities before, during, and after disasters or emergencies. Course features included an ongoing storyline, exercises embedded in the form of real-life scenarios, and game-like features such as points and timed segments.

Results

Evaluation measures indicated significant pre- to post-test gains in learner knowledge and simulated applied skills.

Conclusion

An online program using scenarios and simulations is an effective way to make disability-related training available to a wide variety of emergency responders across geographically disparate areas. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:533-540)

Keywords

disaster planningemergency preparednessemergency respondersvulnerable populations
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Supplement 6 , December 2014 , pp. 533 - 540
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Davis, E, Styron, H. Functional Needs of People with Disabilities: A Guide for Emergency Managers, Planners and Responders. Washington, DC: National Organization on Disability; 2009. http://nod.org/assets/downloads/Guide-Emergency-Planners.pdf. Accessed November 21, 2014.Google Scholar
2. Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness Executive Order 13347 Progress Report July 2005-September 2006. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security; September 1, 2006. http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/icc-0506-progressreport.pdf. Accessed August 25, 2014.Google Scholar
3. National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services. Superstorm Sandy: State I/DD agencies provide assistance. Community Services Reporter. 2012;19(12):8-9.Google Scholar
4. White, G, Fox, M, Rooney, C, Cahill, A. Assessing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Persons With Disabilities Final Report. Lawrence, KS: The University of Kansas, The Research and Training Center on Independent Living; 2007. http://www.rtcil.org/products/NIDRR_FinalKatrinaReport.pdf. Accessed August 24, 2014.Google Scholar
5. Powell, T, Hanfling, D, Gostin, LO. Emergency preparedness and public health: the lessons of Hurricane Sandy. JAMA. 2012;308(24):2569-2570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Jan, S, Lurie, N. Disaster resilience and people with functional needs. N Engl J Med . 2012;367(24):2272-2273. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1213492 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7. Hearings on Oversight: Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: Emergency Preparedness and Response at the City's Healthcare Facilities. Presented Before the New York City Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services Committee on Aging (January 13, 2013) (testimony of Shelley Weizman, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney, MFY Legal Services Inc.). http://www.mfy.org/wp-content/uploads/Disaster-Planning-Testimony-1-24-13.pdf. Accessed August 24, 2014.Google Scholar
8. Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC §12101 et seq. (1990).Google Scholar
9. Jones, N. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Emergency Preparedness and Response. Washington, DC: Library of Congress Research Service; December 29, 2010. http://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RS22254.pdf. Accessed August 23, 2014.Google Scholar
10. US Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency. National Disaster Recovery Framework. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency; September 2011. http://www.fema.gov/national-disaster-recovery-framework. Accessed August 12, 2014.Google Scholar
11. US Department of Homeland Security. National Mitigation Framework. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security; May 2013. http://www.fema.gov/national-mitigation-framework. Accessed June 1, 2014.Google Scholar
12. US Department of Homeland Security. National Response Framework. 2d ed. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security, May 2013. http://www.fema.gov/national-response-framework. Accessed June 1, 2014.Google Scholar
13. US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action. FDOC 104-008-1/December 2011. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security; December 2011. http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1813-25045-0649/whole_community_dec2011__2_.pdf. Accessed February 7, 2014.Google Scholar
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; March 2011; Updated July 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/capabilities/. Accessed August 2, 2014.Google Scholar
15. Kailes, JI, Enders, A (2007) Moving beyond “special needs:” A function-based framework for emergency management and planning. J Disabil Policy Stud. 2007; 17(4):230-237. doi: 10.1177/10442073070170040601 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Davis, E, Mincin, J. Incorporating Special Needs Populations into Emergency Planning and Exercises. Research and Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas; June 26, 2005. http://www2.ku.edu/~rrtcpbs/findings/ Accessed August 2, 2014.Google Scholar
17. Engelman, A, Ivey, S, Tseng, W, et al. Responding to the deaf in disasters: Establishing the need for systematic training for state-level emergency management agencies and community organizations [published online March 7, 2013]. BMC Health Serv Res. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-84 Google Scholar
18. Gibbs, L, Holloway, C. Hurricane Sandy After Action: Report and Recommendations to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. New York, NY: City of New York Mayor’s Office; May, 2013. http://www.nyc.gov/html/recovery/downloads/pdf/sandy_aar_5.2.13.pdf. Accessed August 1, 2014.Google Scholar
19. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. Victims with Disabilities: Collaborative, Multidisciplinary First Response Techniques for First Responders Called to Help Victims Who Have Disabilities Trainer’s Guide. NCJ 231932. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice; 2009; revised 2011. http://www.ovc.gov/publications/infores/pdftxt/VwD_FirstResponse.pdf. Accessed July 8, 2014.Google Scholar
20. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services. Emergency Medical Services Pre-Hospital Treatment Protocols. 11th ed. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services; June 5, 2013. http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/emergency-services/treatment-protocols-1101.pdf. Accessed June 1, 2014.Google Scholar
21. Davis, E, Phillips, B. Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People With Disabilities. Washington, DC: National Council on Disability; August 12, 2009. http://www.ncd.gov/policy/emergency_management. Accessed August 21, 2014.Google Scholar
22. Royal, M, Donahue, A, Kirby, A. Project Responder: Review of Emergency Response Capability Needs. Washington, DC: The United States Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency National Preparedness Directorate, System Support Division and the Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Office of State and Local Preparedness; February, 2008. http://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=38275. Accessed August 21, 2014.Google Scholar
23. 2005-2006 ASPH/CDC Simulation-Based and Interactive Training Collaboration, Centers for Public Health Preparedness Network. User Guide to Simulation-Based and Interactive Training for Preparedness. Washington, DC: Association of School of Public Health; January 2007. http://preparedness.asph.org/perlc/documents/SimulationBasedFINAL.pdf. Accessed August 21, 2014.Google Scholar
24. Hsu, EB, Li, Y, Bayram, JD, et al. State of virtual reality based disaster preparedness and response training [published online April 24, 2013]. PLOS Currents Disasters. http://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/state-of-virtual-reality-vr-based-disaster-preparedness-and-response-training/. doi:10.1371/currents.dis.1ea2b2e71237d5337fa53982a38b2aff Google Scholar
25. Olson, DK, Hoeppner, MM, Scaletta, K, et al. Games, simulations, and learning in emergency preparedness: A review of the literature. Am J Disaster Med. 2012;7(2):145-154. doi: 10.5055/ajdm.2012.0090 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26. Yellowlees, P, Cook, JN, Marks, SL, et al. Can virtual reality be used to conduct mass prophylaxis clinic training? A pilot program. Biosecur Bioterror. 2008;6(1):36-44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27. Hamad, C, Serna, R, Morrison, L, Fleming, R. Extending the reach of early intervention training for practitioners A preliminary investigation of an online curriculum for teaching behavioral intervention knowledge in autism to families and service providers. Infants Young Child. 2010;23(3):1-14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28. Markle, SM. Empirical testing of programs. In: Lange PC, ed. Programmed Instruction: Sixty-Sixth Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education: 2. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; 1967:104-138.Google Scholar
29. Twyman, JS, Layng, TVJ, Stikeleather, G, Hobbins, KA. A non-linear approach to curriculum design: The role of behavior analysis in building an effective reading program. In: Heward WL et al., eds. Focus on Behavior Analysis in Education. Vol 3. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice-Hall; 2004:55-68.Google Scholar
30. Fleming, RK. Teaching behavioral intervention in developmental disabilities via distance learning: Challenges and solutions [DVD]. Presented at the 2004 Annual Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis; 2004; Boston, MA.Google Scholar
31. US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Regional operations Web page. http://www.fema.gov/regional-operations. Accessed August 21, 2014.Google Scholar
32. Fleming, RK, Sulzer-Azaroff, B, Hamad, C, et al. Behavioral intervention in autism: participant learning and satisfaction associated with an internet based curriculum. Paper presented at 29th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis; 2003; San Francisco, CA.Google Scholar
33. Cohen, J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. New Jersey: Erlbaum; 1988.Google Scholar
34. US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency; November 2010. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/odic/fnss_guidance.pdf. Accessed August 1, 2014.Google Scholar
35. SAS [computer program]. Version 9.3 for Windows. Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc; 2013.Google Scholar
36. Olson, DK, Scheller, A, Larson, S, et al. Using gaming simulation to evaluate bioterrorism and emergency readiness education. Public Health Rep. 2010;125(3):468-477.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37. Rowland, J, White, G, Fox, M, Rooney, C. Emergency response training practices for people with disabilities: Analysis of some current practices and recommendations for future training programs. J Disabil Policy Stud. 2007;17(4):216-222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38. Brault, MW. Americans with Disabilities: 2010. P70-131. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, US Census Bureau; July 2012. http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/p70-131.pdf. Accessed August 21, 2014.Google Scholar
39. Autism, Developmental Disabilities Awareness for First Responders, N.J. Stat. Tit.26 §2-189 (2008).Google Scholar
40. Chandra, A, Acosta, J, Stern, S, et al. Building Community Resilience to Disasters: A Way Forward to Enhance National Health Security. Report no.TR-915-DHHS. RAND Corporation; 2011. http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2011/RAND_TR915.pdf. Accessed August 24, 2014.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Wolf-Fordham Supplementary Material

Supplementary Data

Download Wolf-Fordham Supplementary Material(File)
File 75.8 KB