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Assistive Technology
Webinar Series
Brought to you by Michigan’s Assistive Technology
Program at MDRC.
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About the Webinar
 Use the public chat area on the right hand side.
 Questions and comments are encouraged and
expected!
 The session is being recorded.
 We will start recording now.
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AT for Emergencies
August 25, 2011
Michigan Disability
Rights Coalition (MDRC)
Two Types of Emergencies
 Disasters
 Everyday situations
 Two Presentations Included Today:
 An Overview of FEMA and AT
 An Introduction to Michigan AT Program’s
Demonstrations on AT and Communication
in Emergency Situations
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Presenter
 Jessica Mitchell
 Regional Disability Integration Specialist for
FEMA Region V
 536 S. Clark St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605
 312-408-5499 (office)
 312-576-2624 (cell)
 [email protected]
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Short Overview of how
FEMA Works
 Disasters begin and end locally
 Disaster declaration process
 Types of disaster assistance
available for presidentially
declared disasters
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Where FEMA uses Assistive
Technology
 Disaster Recovery Centers
(DRCs)
 Shelters
 Call centers
 Community Relations teams
 Employees
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FEMA Regional Disability
Integration Specialist
 When and why it was formed
 Lessons learned from former disasters
 Initiatives under current administration
 Role within FEMA
 During presidentially declared disasters
 During steady-state activities
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How can you help?
 Talk to your director of
independent living
 Talk to your emergency
management officials
Grant guidance
 Organize Facebook page?
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Resource Handouts
 For emergency management
communities
 Preparedness resources for
individuals with disabilities
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Michigan’s AT Program
 Website at http://www.copower.org including a new
AT Directory
 Used Equipment Exchange: AT Exchange at
http://www.atxchange.org
 Low Interest Loans for AT through UCP Michigan’s AT
Loan Fund
 Device Demonstrations available at different locations
throughout the state.
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The Purpose of
Demonstrations
 Hands on experience with devices
 Compare and contrast features and benefits
 Make an informed decision about whether AT
will help them
 Not a formal assessment/evaluation
 An overview, not training on how to use the
device
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Device Demonstrations
 Hearing Loss Association: Hearing
Technology Resource Specialists – 10 kits of
devices
 Small changes, Big Difference for community
living low cost items
 AT for People who are Neurodiverse
 Low Vision
 Superior Alliance for Independent Living
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Communication in
Emergencies
Every day emergencies including:
 Ability to function at home alone
 Back-up plan for communication using low
tech items
 Ability to manage medication
 Ability to catch someone’s attention
 Ability to read and write
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Communication Overview
(from Lisa Bardach)
 The transfer of information
between individuals by any
means.
 The information does not have to
be true or complete.
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Why Do We Communicate?
 Needs and Wants
 Information Transfer
 Etiquette
 Social Closeness
 Self-talk
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Communication Functions
 Getting attention
 Meeting wants/needs
 Expressing opinions
 Recalling information
 Understanding information
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Communication Modalities
 Speaking (verbal expression)
 Understanding (auditory
comprehension)
 Reading
 Writing
 Thinking (cognition)
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AT Demo: Low Cost Devices
 Low cost items may be an entry point and not
necessarily a final product for daily use
especially with work/school needs.
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AT Demonstration Focus
 Devices and strategies that can help with
catching someone's attention, remembering
important information, using the telephone,
reading, writing, speaking, listening, and
thinking.
 Include low cost back up plans for emergency
and disaster preparedness.
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AT Demonstrations
 Demonstrations are done by everyday users
of AT who have been trained to demonstrate
a variety of items that improve
communication.
 Demonstrators do not sell or promote
specific products.
 Funding and resource information is
available at each personalized
demonstration.
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Some Devices
 Includes devices with
audible and visual
messages.
 Communication boards
(useful back-up strategy!)
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More Devices
 Single message recording
devices
 A talking photo album
 Devices with multiple
messages; also have step-bystep for sequenced
communication
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Telephones
 Hands on
practice is key
to deciding
what works best
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And More
 Magnifiers
 Items for medication
 Time management
 Voice amplification
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Devices - New
 Pen friend
talking
labeling
system
You Tube Video of PenFriend Demo
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Devices – iPod Touch
 Multiple uses for basic communication
 Also has voice-over features
 A universal design option
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Computer-based
Communication
 If a primary device is not
available - emergency back
up of free/low cost software
 Reading and writing
devices: computer, netbook
or device like the Franklin
Spelling Master
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Free Software
 Magnification lightning express:
www.xpscreenreader.com
 Magnification and screen reader
www.satogo.com
 Screen Readers
 NVDA: www.nvda-project.org
 Thunder: www.screenreader.net
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Funding Note
 Assessments by professionals must be
done to access many of the funding
sources.
 ATXchange
 Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund
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Contact Information
Demonstrations are arranged by:
 Disability Network Wayne County/Detroit
313.923.1655
 Disability Network Oakland Macomb
586.268.4160
 United Cerebral Palsy of Metro Detroit
248.557.5070
 Need more information?
Cathy McAdam @ 313 563-1412 or
[email protected]
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Questions?
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Thank you!
 Thank you for completing the online survey
about this webinar. A link will be emailed to
you.
 If you do not want to receive email notices
of future assistive technology webinar
opportunities, please send an email to
[email protected] and ask to be
removed from the AT Webinar list.
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Final Thoughts
 “When you are unable to
communicate, people talk behind,
beside, around, over, under through
and even for you. But never with you.
You are ignored until you feel like a
piece of furniture.” – Richard Creech
 “It wasn't raining when Noah built the
ark” - Howard Ruff
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