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Appendix B: Identify and Address Barriers to Community Engagement

Inclusive community engagement takes intentional effort to achieve in practice. Certain barriers can prevent people from participating in disaster planning and preparedness or accessing information and services. More than one barrier can exist at a time and others may be hidden. It may take time to learn about a community’s barriers.

Communication Barriers are obstacles to finding, understanding, and using information.

Strategies to address communication barriers may include:

  • Distribute information through trusted voices and organizations at frequented areas and through multiple platforms to increase visibility and spread messages more effectively.
  • Create verbal messages, briefings, and meetings with accompanying sign language interpretation and real-time captioning.
  • Create written products that are easy to read, 508 compliant,[6and available in multiple languages. For example, FEMA’s Ready Campaign resources are available in several languages.
  • Create communications that are culturally appropriate and resonate with the intended audience.

Administrative Barriers are obstacles to accessing services and amenities.

Strategies to address administrative barriers may include:

  • Provide services on weekends and before or after traditional business hours to increase program accessibility.
  • Ensure programs and services have appropriate accommodations, including dietary restrictions, religious requirements, cultural preferences, virtual alternatives, or childcare needs.
  • Provide training and resources on programs and services offered to increase knowledge and confidence in emergency management resources.
  • Develop processes that are accessible, easy to understand, and navigable to meet individual and community needs.

Physical Barriers are obstacles to physically navigating a space.

Strategies to address physical barriers may include:

  • Connect with local disability and civil rights partners to ensure meeting locations and disaster shelters are accessible and meet the community’s needs, including:
    • Ensuring availability of wheelchair ramps and elevators, automatic doors, accessible bathrooms, and seating designated for people with disabilities and access and functional needs.
    • Providing spaces for support animals and caregivers.
  • Hold meetings and services in locations accessible by reliable public transportation.
  • Locate services in multiple locations or close to major community hubs such as major employers, schools, or childcare facilities.

Personal or Social Barriers are obstacles caused or increased by harmful stereotypes, stigma, socioeconomic status, religion, race, ethnicity, gender, or others.

Strategies to address personal and social barriers may include:

  • Communicate or provide services through locally trusted voices and organizations.
  • Invite local leaders to visit emergency management facilities or participate in engagements.
  • Engage an experienced and culturally sensitive facilitator for meetings to address participants’ fear rooted in lived or perceived danger or distrust that may prevent someone from accessing government services.
  • Provide recommendations and initiatives with low-cost or no-cost alternatives where possible.
  • Provide multiple opportunities and a variety of formats for engagement to ensure maximum participation.
  • Prioritize cultural humility development among staff to address stereotypes and bias against marginalized communities, including assuming a poor quality of life or limited intellectual capacity, which may prevent meaningful connection.

Footnotes

6. Additional guidance on Section 508 requirements and how they apply in your state, visit State-level Accessibility Law and Policy.