• Emergency Managers, Responders, Service & Care Providers
• Emergency Managers & First Responders
• Service & Care Providers
• Transportation & Emergencies
• Disability Law: Know your Responsibilities

Disability Law: Know your Responsibilities

As emergency managers, first responders, and caregivers work to put into place the appropriate policies, practices and procedures that take into meaningful consideration the needs of people with disabilities, they should keep in mind that there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" approach. Depending on the disability, different needs may be triggered. By the same token, those responsible for emergency preparedness planning and implementation must also recognize the ways in which leaders in the disability community may provide critical insight and assistance as they themselves seek to do their part to prepare for the event of an emergency. People with disabilities should not merely be an afterthought in the process but should be involved in every facet of this work.

Applicable laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The following links provide resources that may help increase one's understanding of the law within an emergency preparedness context:

• General Resources on the Law
• Resources for Emergency Managers