Disaster Preparedness for Providers-Module 2: Disability versus Access and Functional Needs

Video Transcription

Welcome back to Module 2, where we're going to discuss the difference between a disability and an access and functional need, or AFN.  As we discussed last module, a disability is a physical or a mental impairment that limits one or more of life's major activities.  When we think about disability, you may think about an individual who has cerebral palsy, or experienced the loss of a limb, or an individual with a vision impairment.  However, in the disaster management world, you may hear the term access and functional needs, as it's used pretty often where you think the term disability may be applicable.  However, an individual with an access or functional need is any individual or community that may need additional assistance before, during, or after a disaster.  These conditions may be permanent, like a disability, or temporary, and there is no diagnosis or specific evaluation that needs to be done in order to be classified as an  individual with an access and functional need. Examples of individuals who are AFN are people with disabilities, however, it also includes  individuals who have limited English proficiency, or an issue with transportation access. When we think about disability versus access and functional needs, you can think about  the term, a square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square. What that means is an individual with a disability is always an individual with an access and  functional need, however, an individual with an access and functional need may not always be a person with a disability.  For example, an individual with an access and functional need may be somebody who has recently broke a leg and now has to use a wheelchair or other mobile device.  However, an individual with a disability could be somebody who is permanently using a wheelchair.  Another example for an individual with an access and functional need is somebody whose car broke down and they may not have private transportation to rely on if they need to  evacuate, versus an individual with a disability may rely on public accessible transportation. Both have an access and functional need, but only one has a disability.  In our next module, we'll discuss the present hazards in Texas.

Video Summary

Module 2 distinguishes between disabilities and access and functional needs (AFN). A disability is a physical or mental impairment limiting major life activities, like cerebral palsy. AFN refers to additional assistance required temporarily or permanently around disasters, applicable to broader groups without specific diagnoses. While all disabled individuals have AFN, not all with AFN are disabled. AFN includes those with temporary conditions, like a broken leg, or limited English proficiency and transportation access issues. This concept parallels the idea that all squares are rectangles, but not vice versa.

Asset Subtitle

In this module, you will learn the difference between disability versus access and functional needs.

Keywords

disabilities

access and functional needs

AFN

temporary conditions

transportation access