UMMS Shriver Center Emergency Preparedness and Response Initiative
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| Radiation exposure check during emergency drill |
By the very nature of their challenges, people with disabilities may be less likely to adopt effective risk mitigation strategies in advance, evacuate, or respond to emergency instructions, access a public shelter, shelter in place at home, or communicate with emergency responders. During emergencies and disasters they are often left without options and have to make do without personal care, social services and other supports. Too often people with disabilities have been excluded from emergency plans and the planning process.
Since 2005, the University of Massachusetts Medical School Shriver Center has worked to address the emergency preparedness needs of children and adults with disabilities and special health care issues, fostering development of individual, family and organizational preparedness knowledge, skills, and resilience.
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| Shriver employee plays "victim" going through decontamination during emergency drill |
Current Emergency Preparedness and Response Projects and Activities
Getting Ready for Emergencies: Self-Advocate Peer Workshop
Emergency and Disaster Training: Graduate LEND Fellows
Emergency Preparedness Training for Parents of Children with Disabilities
Emergency and Disaster Drill and Exercise Consultation
Online Training for Health Care First Responders and First Receivers
Active Planning for Mass Care Sheltering and Evacuation of People with Disabilities Project
Emergency Preparedness & Response Resources
Resources for Adults with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs 
Resources for Children with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs and Their Families
Systems Change and Capacity Building
2012 National Preparedness Month blog entries
For more information about the Emergency Preparedness Initiative contact Sue Wolf-Fordham, (781-642-0275) or susan.wolf-fordham@umassmed.edu