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Access and Functional Needs Organization Partners

Historically, alerting authorities depended exclusively on radio and television to send alerts, but these information sources can only target a state or regional sized area and do not currently employ many of the emerging assistive technologies for alerting those with disabilities, including the 29 million with hearing impairment. Importantly, the Executive Order that created IPAWS mandates that the US government must “include in the public alert and warning system the capability to alert and warn all Americans, including those with disabilities and those without an understanding of the English language.” IPAWS Program Management Office (PMO) is building a stronger and more inclusive alert and warning system.

How is IPAWS Improving Alerting to Americans with Access and Functional Needs?

By creating the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a standard for alert messages, IPAWS is providing an opportunity to improve emergency alert information delivery to Americans with access and functional needs.  CAP alerts can transport rich multi-media attachments and links in alert messages.  The availability of additional content will enable industry partners to develop and provide special content and or devices that can be used by access and functional needs communities to receive emergency alerts.

The IPAWS PMO is engaging in collaborative working relationships with various organizations and agencies representing individuals with access and functional needs to help communicate access and functional needs requirements to alert and warning industry partners.  These partners include, but are not limited to: Signtel, Deaf-Link, Alertus, NPR, Readspeaker, Roam Secure, VPN Voice Corp, and public organizations such as NOAA.  The IPAWS PMO partners with these organizations to demonstrate products that incorporate CAP-enabled technologies for alerting persons with access and functional needs. 

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IPAWS and Office of Disability and Integration and Coordination (ODIC) Roundtables

IPAWS PMO partners with FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and Coordination to initiate semi-annual Roundtables for Federal Partners and Industry Experts on disability-related issues. The Roundtables include representatives from over a dozen leading organizations representing Americans with access and functional needs. Roundtables are designed to provide periodic updates to our Industry and Federal partners, elicit information on emerging technologies and systems that can integrate CAP, and facilitate robust discussions between industry and advocacy organizations.

The most recent virtual roundtable was held on September 30th, 2011.

The discussion included:

IPAWS, ODIC Roundtable Briefing (PDF 742KB, TXT 16KB)
IPAWS, ODIC Roundtable Captioning (PDF 83KB, TXT 78KB)

For more information on upcoming events, click here.

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Emerging Assistive Technologies

Assistive Technology Products can enable people with disabilities, their caregivers and supportive family members, to accomplish daily living tasks, by assisting in communication, education, work or recreation activities, to help achieve greater independence and enhanced quality of life.

FEMA recognizes that people with access and functional needs are a critical part of the nation’s emergency management team. It is incumbent upon the IPAWS Program Management Office to reach out to the American people to ensure all segments of the American population know and understand our alert and warning systems – how they work and what they can expect during times of crisis.

The needs of the access and functional needs community are a critical consideration when developing technology to facilitate emergency and public safety communications. The IPAWS PMO has been able to identify emerging technologies and assistive technology products that support or provide direct alert and warning capabilities. While the list of devices can be extensive, the following are a representative sample of technologies currently undergoing IPAWS PMO operational testing and evaluations.

Technologies and products for those with access and functional needs are routinely incorporated into IPAWS demonstrations and have been displayed at such events as the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Annual Conference, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Annual Conference, the IPAWS Congressional Demonstration, and the National Disabilities Rights Network (NDRN) Annual Conference. The IPAWS PMO has also participated in such events as the Interagency Disability Educational Awareness Showcase, FEMA Getting Real Conference, and IAEM’s Special Needs Committee meeting. The IPAWS PMO is continually working toward integrating additional technologies and encouraging industry innovation to meet the access and functional needs of all Americans.

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Access and Functional Needs Organizations Partners

The IPAWS PMO continuously seeks to engage with new partners to form relationships, share information, and receive feedback. The IPAWS PMO conducts outreach and engages a number of organizations representing people with access and functional needs to ensure they are kept informed of IPAWS progress.

ADA/People with Access and Functional Needs

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To return to the FEMA IPAWS Home Page, click here.

Last Modified: Thursday, 27-Oct-2011 16:17:33 EDT