Access and Functional Needs Program

Emergency Managers know disasters can impact the community in disproportionate ways and this is especially true for people with access and functional needs.  People with access and functional needs include but is not limited to: 

Individuals who use American Sign Language
Who are blind or have low visionReading, learning, remembering and mobility disabilitiesPeople in late-stage pregnancy
People who rely on public transportation 
Use service animalsHave non-English language skillsUnsheltered individuals


The purpose of the Access and Functional Needs Program is to integrate equity and inclusion in all phases of emergency management. This is accomplished through a whole community approach with emergency planners, disability advocates, social and human services professionals, public health officials and community leaders. This will create a more resilient Pierce County where people with access and functional needs can plan for, respond to and recover from all emergencies and disasters.

This library provides resource videos and supporting documents related to encountering and working with people who have access and functional needs. This is not an exhaustive list of resources.

This link takes you to a video series for First Responders. The links to the individual videos are also provided below. 

Alzheimer’s Disease & Memory Loss video + handout
  • Summary = video on what is Alzheimer’s disease and tips and suggestions for First Responders 
  • Length = 10:19
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options
Mental Illness video + handout
  • Summary = video on how First Responders can best support people living with mental illness
  • Length = 10:01
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options
Deaf and Hard of Hearing video + handout
  • Summary = video on how First Responders can best support people who are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Length = 9:32
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options

Autism video + handout
  • Summary = video on what is Autism and tips and suggestions for First Responders 
  • Length = 10:05
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options
Physical Disabilities video + handout
  • Summary = video on how First Responders can best support people with physical disabilities
  • Length = 8:47
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options
Cognitive Disabilities Video + handout
  • Summary = video on how First Responders can best support people who have cognitive disabilities
  • Length = 10:11
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options

Blind & Low Vision video + handout
  • Summary = video on how First Responders can best support people who are blind or have low vision 
  • Length = 7:46
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options
Chronic Illness video + handout
  • Summary = video on how First Responders can best support people with chronic illness
  • Length = 8:25
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options



ADDITIONAL VIDEO RESOURCES


Accessibility Training - Exam Table_cc (vimeo.com)
  • Summary = video on how to safely transfer patients to an exam table
  • Length = 4:11
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • No = Language options

Accessibility Training - Weigh Scale_CC (vimeo.com)
  • Summary = video on how to use an accessible scale 
  • Length = 3:34
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • No = Language options

Travis ACT Training video: Travis Alert Act Training for EMS Part 1 - Bing video
  • Summary = training video for First Responders on how to best respond to emergencies involving people with disabilities and those with access & functional needs
  • Length = 40:55
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options

How To Work With A Sign Language Interpreter In 5 Easy Steps (Interpreted) - YouTube
  • Summary = video on how to work with ASL Interpreters
  • Length = 6:04
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • Yes = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options

Transit Access for the DeafBlind community on Vimeo
  • Summary = video describing how people who are deafblind navigate public transit and provides education regarding the deafblind community with tips/suggestions
  • Length = 8:14
  • Yes (hardcoded) = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • No = Language options

King County Metro's assisting Deaf/Blind passengers. (vimeo.com)
  • Summary = video on how transit operators can best provide assistance to people who are deafblind
  • Length = 5:39
  • Yes (hardcoded, scrolling) = Closed Captions
  • No (no audio throughout the video) = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • No = Language options

NEMP - Deafblind Awareness Training: How to guide a Deafblind person during an emergency - YouTube
  • Summary = video on how to guide and support people who are deafblind
  • Length = 3:49
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options

Guide Techniques for people who are blind or visually impaired - YouTube
  • Summary = video on how to guide and support people who are blind or low vision
  • Length = 10:25
  • Yes = Closed Captions
  • No = audio description
  • No = ASL in video
  • Yes (subtitles in multiple languages) = Language options


additional resources

Contact Information

Ivan Tudela
253-798-2203
[email protected]