ERIC Number: ED401660
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1994
Pages: 31
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Addressing Identified Barriers Faced by Persons with Sensory Disabilities. Final Report of the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the HJR 461 Task Force to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia. House Document No. 99.
Virginia State Dept. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Richmond.
This report describes a special Virginia task force study of barriers faced by persons with sensory disabilities in emergency and law enforcement situations. Surveys were conducted of three populations: deaf and hard of hearing; blind and visually disabled; and PSAPs (public safety answering points--centers which answer 911 calls). The overriding concern found in the surveys was that individuals were reluctant to provide information regarding their disability to PSAPs and other emergency service providers, to prevent the information being used against them. However, respondents indicated they would be willing to provide basic information if it was used by a 911 or other emergency service via a confidential system that would dispatch response personnel to their address more quickly during an emergency situation. A Pocket Handbook was developed which focuses on identification of and communicating sensitively with persons who have sensory disabilities. A Best Practices Guide was also developed which covers training, identification of sensory disabilities, on-the-scene communication, auxiliary aids, and resources. The consumer education plan formulated involves presentations, mass media informational efforts, and publication of emergency preparedness tip sheets for the targeted populations. The legislative resolution directing the study is appended. (DB)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Virginia State Dept. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Richmond.
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A