JLM Disaster Resiliency and Accessibility Consulting

I am hoping this is available in alternate format as the below looks very interesting for those in the field of EM/DRR/HEM.

Haha the music and ghost cracks me up! lol

[Image Description: Red animated background panning over a map of Canada. Black CRHNet logo. Text: NEW EP Blog Post Earthquake Preparedness] Have you ever wondered about experiencing an earthquake through a disability lens? Jen McEachen has written a great blog to shed light on this very subject. Covering topics such as: - Mobility - Neurodiverse / Cognitive Disabilities - Hearing / Vision Read more here to be better prepared! https://lnkd.in/gce6wH2m

This is the first year British Columbia has announced October 11-18, ShakeOut BC Week with the annual earthquake drill occurring on October 17th at 10:17 a.m. British Columbia Earthquake Alliance (https://lnkd.in/gYW6trcV) has been instrumental in advocating for individuals across British Columbia to practice annual earthquake drills. Earthquakes can occur anywhere. Want to participate in ShakeOutBC? Visit this link for further details or sign up to receive updates/guides: https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/ Remember: DROP! COVER! HOLD ON!

As of October 1, 2024, the Canadian Risk and Hazards Network (CRHNet) is proud to share that we will be offering complimentary memberships to all First Nations, Métis and Inuit emergency managers. Current members of CRHNet who would like to renew your membership under this new initiative, please send an email to [email protected]. We do not require ID. Please note that complimentary membership must still be renewed annually.

Series Three: National Guide Dog Awareness Month—Building your Emergency Kit Today is the last of the series for National Guide Dog Awareness Month. Below are my personal suggestions for any guide or service dog handler to add to their 72-hour “GO” kit and your vehicle kit. Store your dog’s medical and emergency information in your bag AND in a cloud-storage space to access through your phone/tablet. Extra collar, Gentle Leader (GL) and leash. Bowl with at least two days worth of dog food stored in both your car and your “Go” bag. (rotate these out every six months as food can over time become stale). Water will already be a part of the human’s “Go” bag, car and “shelter-in-place” if there is a boil water advisory. Doggie bags to dispose waste and garbage. Extra supply of medications your dog is on and check expiry dates every six months. Recent copy of guide dog ID stored in your bags AND in cloud-storage alongside dog’s medical information. Booties (some locations you may be required to walk through debris—such as broken glass, hot / cold weather, etc). And mostly importantly, toys already scented to pack away for stress relief. Every person’s needs will vary. Add/remove items that is individualized to your situation. There are many online resources to gather information on emergency planning and building a kit for you and your family, including your guide dog.

Week 2 – Public Access for Guide Dog Users at Reception Centers Any person who is blind, visually-impaired or deafblind utilizing a guide dog for independent travel have public access rights under Canadian’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Each province have differing languages pertaining to either guide or service dog access. Reception centers are public places. Emergency management professionals should accommodate individuals using a guide dog by allowing them access to dog food, water and an appropriate relieving area. Currently, there is no legislation or training specifically to address the needs of blind, visually-impaired or deafblind evacuees with their guide dog–this gap is not new within Canada. One document was located through Emergency Management of British Columbia (now Emergency Management and Climate Readiness) dating back to 2009, with a very short sentence indicating the importance of allowing guide and service dog access through facilities run by BC’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centers. Lack of training and resources is astounding. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States are well-equipped to address the challenges individuals with guide or service dogs face in times of disaster with a variety of resources on the web, in print and video; in particular, for individuals who are deaf and require ASL to access information. Canada is behind–we need to make systemic change to a person-centered approach to address the needs of evacuees with specific requirements such as respecting the individual’s preferred mobility choice of using a guide dog and not treat the dog as a “pet”. Change is needed! Without the support of other emergency managers to educate themselves and educate others, change in behavior will not happen, not even overnight. Discrimination towards blind, visually-impaired and deafblind individuals using a guide dog is rampant, and emergency managers can help proactively create a “safe”, inclusive and welcoming environment for them at reception centers. Want to be a part of the change? Want to learn more? Email me at: [email protected]

First of the weekly series for National Guide Dog Awareness Month, I’ll be providing some tips for emergency managers to check out and share with their networks. Guide Dogs vs Canes: Individuals who are blind, visually-impaired or deafblind will either use a white cane or a guide dog to aid in their daily travels safely and independently. An individual using a white cane will encounter everything in their line of travel, chairs, tables, and potential drop-offs. A guide dog will traverse around obstacles smoothly to avoid contact with the objects in the person’s line of travel and stop at up/down-curbs. Any person that uses either a cane or dog will need to know how to orient themselves in space. Only 10% of the blind population are totally blind. Many will find useful ways to utilize their residual vision to assist in assessing traffic surges prior to crossing intersections, bright landmarks to find their final destination, shadows and even direction of the sun to know cardinal directions. Olfactory and auditory cues are useful for navigational purposes, such as the smell of bread wafting from a bakery. Canes offer tactile feedback such as grass, pavement, tactile domes to indicate the edge of a curb, etc and at times touch obstacles that have different reverberations for a deafblind traveler. A person using a guide dog still require the orientation skills but loose the tactile feedback the cane provides. Guide dog users provide verbal and visual cues to the dog where the person wants/needs to go; however, the dog can disobey commands if it is unsafe to move forward. Both tools are useful depending on the person’s preference and lifestyle. Here’s a great web site to dive deeper into the differences: https://lnkd.in/gZCpkwMn

I’ve started volunteering my time on the board of directors of “Canadian Hazard and Risk Network” (CHRNet) as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Director. I am excited and looking forward to educating and spreading the word on inclusion and accessibility with the world of Emergency Management! (EM professional—you are encouraged to spread the world of this news and information; in particular, to my JLM Disaster Resiliency and Accessibility Consulting LinkedIn page!)

[Image description: Animated graphic depicting a large red megaphone with a speech bubble that states "Members get special discounts! Check your inbox or sign up today!"] Did you know that becoming a member of CRHNet gives you the opportunity to access amazing discounts? If you are a current member check your inbox, discount codes for CEPCA and C-SCRM are waiting for you to use them! Not a member yet?! Well you are in luck! We just overhauled our membership benefits. Visit CRHNet's membership page to learn more and stay tuned to our social media channels for highlights! Membership page: https://lnkd.in/ehHECJEN