Maintaining Communication Access, Encouraging Disaster Preparedness: A Conversation on Emergency Preparedness and People with Communication Disabilities

Seminar Description:

As the 2022 hurricane season opens, it is time to provide critical information about
disaster/emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and, especially, people with

significant communication needs. This session will be a panel discussion moderated by the co-
chairs of USSAAC’s Disaster Relief Committee. The panel will be comprised of internationally

known leaders in the area of disability, disaster preparedness and response, and disaster survivors who use AAC.

To register for this Webinar please go to the following link:
Register for webinar

CE units are available for Free to USSAAC/ISAAC members only.

Non-member pay $25 for each webinar.

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area).

CEU Information

CEU Form

Presented by:

Pam Kennedy, Marcie Roth,
Shaylin Sluzalis and Germán Parodi

About the Presenters:

Pam Kennedy serves as a Disability Advocate, Augmentative and Alternative Communication,
Emergency Management and Crisis Intervention Specialist. She is an invisible frontline worker and
advocate who has specialized in emergency preparedness, disaster response, patient-provider
communication and threat assessments for vulnerable populations since 1992. She has survived
disasters in North Dakota and Georgia, sharing her expertise to save lives as infrastructure
collapses.

Marcie Roth is Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for the World Institute on Disability
(WID), a highly regarded global public policy center. Appointed by President Obama to the U.S
Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 2009 to
2017, she served as Senior Advisor to the Administrator and as the congressionally mandated
Disability Coordinator for the agency. While at FEMA, she established the Office of Disability
Integration and Coordination (ODIC), serving as its Director. Under her leadership, ODIC led
national transformation towards integrating the access and functional needs of the whole
community throughout emergency preparedness and disaster response, recovery and mitigation

Shaylin Sluzalis and Germán Parodi, Co-Directors of the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster
Strategies, come from Independent Living movement and disability rights backgrounds. Germán
acquired his spinal cord injury in 2001. Shaylin has invisible disabilities and grew up alongside her
disabled sister, Brittani. Both their experiences led them to work for Centers for Independent
Living and evolve into disability rights activists with ADAPT where they met and fell in love.
Shaylin and Germán’s journey in inclusive emergency management began in 2017 when they were
deployed to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria as disabled first responders meeting the needs
of disaster-impacted people with disabilities.

MODERATED BY:

Sarah Blackstone and Liz Begley; co-chairs USSAAC Disaster Relief Committee

ASHA CEUs are available to SLPs who are USSAAC/ISAAC members.
Non-members pay a $25 CEU fee for each webinar.

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory level; Professional area.)

PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN TO:

• Identify 2 reasons why it is critical for people with disabilities to be prepared for natural
  and other disasters.
• List the particular challenges people with disabilities face when confronted with an
  impending disaster (e.g., power outage, sheltering, evacuating).
• Name at least 3 preparedness resources (including apps) for individuals with/without
  communication impairments
• Identify 2 ways COVID changed how we think about planning for and living through an
  emergency or disaster.

TIME ORDERED AGENDA:

• 5 minutes: Introduction of speaker, USSAAC and topic
• 15 minutes: Why is it so critical for people with disabilities to be prepared for a natural disaster?
  What specific challenges do people with communication disabilities face when
  confronted with impending disaster?
• 15 minutes: Important considerations for people with significant communication
  challenges and their families/supporters to make sure they are prepared.
• 5 minutes: The service provider’s role in helping people who use AAC in preparing for
  emergencies/disasters, and factors to consider regarding seeking
  shelter.
• 10 minutes: Emergency resources, apps and phone features that are helpful for AAC users
  during a disaster? How COVID has changed the way we think about planning and
  living through an emergency/disaster.
• 10 minutes: Q and A

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) CEUs in speech-language pathology and
audiology are awarded by the ASHA CE Registry upon receipt of the CEU Participant Form from the ASHA
Approved CE Provider, USSAAC. CEU Participant Forms are available onsite at Registration. ASHA CEUs are
provided to full registrations. This program is offered for .1 ASHA CEUs (Introductory Level, Professional
Area)

ASHA Disclosures:

Speakers

Pam Kennedy will receive an honorarium from USSAAC for her presentation (financial). She has no
nonfinancial disclosures to report.

Shaylin Sluzalis is employed by Partnership of Inclusive Disaster Strategies (financial). She has no
nonfinancial disclosures to report.

Germán Parodi is employed by Partnership of Inclusive Disaster Strategies (financial). He has no
nonfinancial disclosures to report.

Marcie Roth is an employee of WID (financial). She is on the Board of Directors of the Partnership for
Inclusive Disaster Strategies (nonfinancial).

Moderators

Sarah Blackstone has no financial or nonfinancial disclosures to report.
Liz Begley has no financial or nonfinancial disclosures to report.

PLEASE NOTE: Only the first 150 attendees to log into
the webinar will be guaranteed spots.

USSAAC EDUCATION COMMITTEE:
Betsy Caporale, Gretchen Cole-Lade, Richard Hurtig,
Stephanie Meehan, Wendy Quach

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