Here in Module 5, titled Disability and Disaster Law, we're going to cover six different pieces of legislation that requires for the disaster space to plan for individuals with disabilities and their specific needs. Starting with the American with Disabilities Act, or the ADA, it is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. When looking at the disaster space specifically, it requires that individuals with disabilities are given equal access to benefits and programs. These benefits and programs can include things like safety, food, medical care, or mass shelters. It requires that individuals with disabilities have the same access to these programs as individuals without disabilities. Similarly, Section 504 under the HHS is a national law with protections on the basis of discrimination and the provision of services. Section 504 specifically sets standards for accessible equipment within health spacing and access to different types of programming. Section 504 under the HHS recently got an update to its law. One of the goals is which is trying to lessen institutionalization of individuals with disabilities within the disaster cycle. As discussed last module, individuals with disabilities are sometimes put into institutions when the disaster response has not planned or given supports to that individual, leading to lifelong institutionalization. Third is the Stafford Act, which in itself is a federal law that gave the structure and order to current disaster response. When we look at specific disability-related laws within the Stafford Act, it has laws and instructions on the needs of individuals with disabilities and how to plan for them within the disaster cycle. Similarly, the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act that happened after Hurricane Katrina and edited the Stafford Act is a reform disaster preparedness and response, which changed the activities of FEMA and how we prepare and respond to a disaster. One disability-related item that the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act did was create a disability coordinator within the FEMA structure, and it reinforced equal access that was necessary. Our fifth piece of legislation is the Rehabilitation Act, which is what codified the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability for every federal agency. And finally, the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, requires messaging and website information to be accessible. When we think about how this relates to disaster information, this means that any public messaging, including social media posts or live programming, must be accessible for individuals to gain access. It also affects and puts laws on disaster-related messaging such as emergency notification systems, which let an individual or a community know about a hazard that may be coming their way. Our next module is the final module, in which we will cover suggestions on what you can change to make everything a little bit more accessible and inclusive.

Disability and Disaster Law

Americans with Disabilities Act

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act

Rehabilitation Act

FEMA disability coordinator