STATE OF TEXAS

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS SUPPORT SERVICES TOOL KITAPRIL 1, 2011

Due to site maintenance on our regular website the FNSS Tool Kit will temporarily be housed at our PreparingTexas.org site. Below is the link location for the Tool Kit.

https://www.preparingtexas.org/preparedness.aspx?page=32137bc8-eed7-42bb-ad7e-2765fd8abdb9

FEMA• Mass Care Section• Office of Disability Integration and Coordination• Volunteer Agency Liaison• Faith Based Office• Office of Chief Council• Region I• Region VI• Region XHHS• ESF 8 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response ASPR• ESF 6 Administration for Children and FamiliesDHS• Office for Civil Rights and Civil LibertiesDOJ• Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division

BCFS Health and Human ServicesEmergency Services DivisionAmerican Red Cross• Direct Services• Mass Care• Disaster Health ServicesNational Council on DisabilityNational Council on Independent LivingNational Disability Rights NetworkCenter for Disability and Health PolicyRhode Island Department of Health• Center for Emergency Preparedness & Response (CEPR)Florida Statewide Disability Coordinator,Division of Emergency ManagementCalifornia Emergency Management AgencyOffice for Access and Functional Needs

Denita Powell, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Jack Doebbler, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Mario Chapa, Texas Division of Emergency Management,

Kevin Dinnin, BCFS Kari Tatro, BCFS Glen Bason, Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

Liza Chigos, American Red Cross Will O'Neill, MS, PCP, ABCP, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative ServicesSharon A. Nalls, President, Emergency Management Association of Texas

Philip G. Mongeau, Board Member, Emergency Management Association of Texas Angela English, LPC, LMFT, Texas Governor's Committee on People with DisabilitiesRobert Posey, Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation Nancy Bass, The Salvation Army of

Texas Rick Bays, Texas Department of State Health Services Katie Sanches, Texas Department of State Health Services Dr. Sandra Guerra, Texas Department of State Health Services

Subject Matter Experts:Ann Horn, Direct Services Program Specialist, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS), Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative ServicesPaul Rutowski, President, Texas Association ofthe DeafDr. Steve Baldwin, Secretary, Texas Associationof the DeafLex Frieden, Professor of Rehabilitation, BaylorCollege of MedicineNancy Shugart, Retired Teacher, author andformer committee member to the Governor’sCommittee on People with Disabilities, serviceanimal subject matter expertDoug Dittfurth, Outreach Development Specialist, Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Joe Bontke, Chair of the Texas Governors Committee on People with Disabilities

Document Reviewed by: Emergency Management Association of Texas, Board of Directors Governors Emergency Trama Acute Care Council, Disaster/Emergency Preparedness Committee Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities

Children and adults requiring FNSS may have:

Physical disabilitiesSensory disabilitiesMental health, cognitive and/or intellectual disabilities

Others who may benefit from FNSS include:Women in late stages of pregnancyEldersPersons needing bariatric equipment, transportation, health preservation or communication assistance

Children and adults with and without disabilities who have access and functional needs have been:

• turned away from general population shelters• inappropriately placed in “other environments”• received disparate treatment• denied full and equal services

Identify methods for achieving a lawful and equitable program through the delivery of Functional Needs Support Services for children and adults.

To integrate services necessary for individuals with disabilities, functional and access needs to maintain their independence in general population shelters.

To allow all individuals to stay in the most integrated setting during disasters.

The law mandates integration and equal opportunity for people with disabilities

• Stafford Act 1988• Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA)• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)• Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (RA) • Fair Housing Act Amendments 1988• Architectural Barriers Act 1968

Self-determination Physical access No “One Size Fits All” Equal access Equal opportunity to benefits

Effective communication

Inclusion Program modifications Integration No Charge

Shelter Planning Considerations

Involve: • People requiring FNSS• Agencies / organizations that provide FNSS• Agencies / organizations advocating for right of people requiring FNSS• DME, CMS, PAS and communication providers

Assistance with identifying stakeholders: www.disability.gov

Planning for Shelter Capacity• Know the demographic profile of the geographic region that you are planning for; including type of assistance that may be needed• Be sure to plan for adequate capacity (adequate square footage) to accommodate all individuals• 20 square feet per person should be available for short-term or evacuation shelters and up to 40 square feet per person for sheltering longer than 72 hours.• People who use wheelchairs, lift equipment, service

animals, and personal assistance services can require up to 100 square feet.

Shelters need accessible:

Entrances Parking Eating areas Sleeping areas Public telephonesCheck in /information areas

Drinking fountainsRestrooms, showers, toilet stalls including portable toiletsRoutes within toilet rooms Routes to all services / activity areas Sidewalks / walkways Entrances, hallways, corridors

• Durable Medical Equipment (DME)Wheelchairs, walkers, bedside commodes,

bariatric beds, O2 concentrators etc. • Consumable Medical Supplies (CMS)

Oxygen, hearing aid batteries, diapers (adult and child), gauze, etc.

• Power GenerationEmergency power supply for life sustaining DME

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) are formal and informal services provided by paid personnel, personal attendants, friends, family members, and volunteers that enable children and adults to maintain their usual level of independence in a general population shelter. Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Grooming Eating Bathing Toileting Dressing and undressing Walking / transferring

Maintaining health and safety

Taking medications Communicating Accessing programs and services

• Provisions to provide meals and snacks to children and adults with specific dietary needs and restrictions.

Low fat, low sodium, low sugar, pureed etc.• Process for promptly obtaining, documenting and communicating specific dietary needs and restrictions to entity responsible for meal and snack preparation.• Process for responding quickly to unanticipated dietary needs.

• Service animals must be allowed in shelters• Service animals must be allowed to accompany its

owner anywhere other members of the public are allowed to go.

• Bathrooms, areas where food is served, and almost all areas where medical care is provided

• Questions to determine if an animal is a service animal1)"Is this a service animal required because of a

disability?" 2)"What work or tasks has the animal been trained

to perform?"

Children and adults with and without disabilities who have access or functional needs should be given the same information provided in general population shelters using methods that are understandable and timely.

Examples: Volunteers for one-on-one assistanceBlind/Low Vision:Braille, Large/High Contrast signs, Audio RecordingDeaf/Hard of Hearing or Speech disability:

Sign Language, Oral Interpreter, Note pads and pens