ArizonaArizona Statewide Independent Living Statewide Independent Living

Council (AZ SILC)Council (AZ SILC)The Disability Empowerment CenterThe Disability Empowerment Center

5025 E Washington Street5025 E Washington StreetPhoenix, AZ 85034Phoenix, AZ 85034

Tony DiRienziTony DiRienzitony@azsilc.org

602/262-2900, voice/TTY602/262-2900, voice/TTY

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Topic:• What is SILC?• What are Access & Functional

Needs (AFN)?• Who has Access & Functional

Needs?

AZ SILCAZ SILCSILC is an AZ Governor’s advisory council and non profit organization, whose members: • Are a majority of people with a

disability,• Represent the diversity of AZ,• Assess and advocate for issues

related to Independent Living.

AZ SILCAZ SILCIndependent Living is about Civil Rights.

Our goal is to ensure that People with Disabilities

have equal access to live and participate in their community.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Historically, Emergency Planning

has designated AFN Population as

Specialand/or

Vulnerable.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

The perception of Special

discriminates and

segregates.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

You can’t be Special

and Equal at the

same time

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Vulnerable means

being exposed to to things or situations

that can do you harm.

AZ SILCAZ SILCVulnerability

is reduced or eliminatedby assessing risks,developing planstesting strategies,

and having appropriate assets and resources.

.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

People with Disabilities are the majority

of theAccess & Functional Needs

(AFN) Population.

AZ SILCAZ SILCOther groups in AFN Population:• Pregnant Women • Aging/Children• Temporary Medical Conditions• Homeless• Non English Speaking• Recent Hospital Discharges

mm

AZ SILCAZ SILC

AZ SILCAZ SILC

The ability of an individual to accomplish their

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

is the criteria for Access & Functional Need.

AZ SILCAZ SILCExamples of ADLs:

• Walking• Bathing/Showering,• Dressing,• Communicating,• Toileting, and• Socializing.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

AFN Major Categories:• Mobility (Walking)• Sensory (Seeing, Hearing)• Cognitive (Processing

Information) • Mental (Behavior)• Self Care ( Multiple ADLs)

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Equipment for ADLs:• Power Wheelchairs,• Audio Input/Output Electronic Devices,• Text Devices,• Video Telephones.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Services for ADLs:• American Sign Language (ASL)

Interpreters,• Animals, and• Personal Care Attendants.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Accessibility is vital

forindividuals with AFN

to beIndependent.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Accessibility means: • Easy to use, enter, reach, apply,• Being at hand when needed,• Easy to meet, interact with,

communicate with, or contact.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Accessibilitymust be integrated

into Emergency Planningin order to provide

inclusive and whole community Response and Recovery.

ss

AZ SILCAZ SILC

AZ SILCAZ SILC

m

AZ SILCAZ SILC

People with Access and Functional Needs,

must be afforded the same level of

safety and security in their communitiesas everyone else.

AZ SILCAZ SILC

AZ Total Population = 6,392,017

People with Disabilities = 1,642,748• 25.7% of Population

AZ SILCAZ SILCAZ AFN Population:• 8.03% - Difficulty in Walking = 513,279• 3.73% - Unable to use stairs = 238,422• 1.92% - Cane, Crutch, etc. = 122,272• 0.72% - Wheelchair Users = 46,023• 2.12% - Self Care = 134,232

AZ SILCAZ SILC

AZ AFN Population:• 5.46% - Hard of Hearing = 349,004• 0.46% - Deaf = 29,403• 4.25% - Low Vision = 271,661• 0.64% - Blind = 40,909• 4.12% - Cognitive = 262,073

AZ SILCAZ SILC

Integrating Functional Needs in Emergency Preparedness Planning:• Save Lives,• Reduces stress on assets and

resources during an emergency, and• It’s the Law.

AZ SILCAZ SILCLegal Considerations: • The Rehab Act, 1973, Section 504• The Americans for Disabilities Act, 1990• Presidential Executive Order 13347,

2004 • Pandemic and All Hazards

Preparedness Act, 2006

AZ SILCAZ SILC

“Disasters are always inclusive, Response and Recovery

are not unless

we plan for it.”June Isaacson Kailes