Speaker Bios & Presentations 2008 FEMA Urban Hazards Forum V: Conference on Emergency Preparedness for Special Needs Populations DAY ONE: Tuesday, August 12 Special Remarks- 9:45 – 10 AM Patricia A. Morrissey, Ph.D. Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities Pat Morrissey has been the Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) since 2001. ADD is housed in the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Pat’s career includes stints in both the public and private sector. Pat worked for both the Senate and the House of Representatives. She oversaw or played a central role in most of the major disability legislation enacted by Congress in the 1990s. She has written four books, and assisted in the production of six training videos on the ADA and served as a consultant to Fortune 200 companies on ADA compliance. From 2004 to 2006, she was a member of the U.S. Delegation to a United Nations Committee working on a disability rights treaty. She was a keynote speaker at an international conference in Beijing, China in June 2004. Since Hurricane Katrina she has worked to promote greater attention to the value of and need for input from and partnership with individuals with disability-related expertise and experience in emergency planning, response, and recovery activities. Pat views herself as a problem solver and persuader. She believes the “American Dream” belongs to everyone, and her main job is to help make it happen for individuals with disabilities. General Session- 10 - 11 AM All Inclusive Emergency Preparedness: Pediatric Improvements and Challenges Which Remain The session will cover the importance of all inclusive preparedness, which includes pediatrics as an integral part of emergency planning. This will address challenges faced when the needs of infants and children are not considered in general emergency planning. The session will also highlight improvements in including children in emergency preparedness and identify several of the challenges still to be addressed. Presenter- David Markenson, MD -Director of the Center for Disaster Medicine -Associate Professor of Public Health, School of Public Health – New York Medical College -Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine & Associate Professor of Pediatrics Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center Dr. David Markenson is a board certified Pediatrician with Fellowship training in both Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Critical Care. He is currently working as the Director of the Center for Disaster Medicine at the School of Public Health at New York Medical College School of Public Health and Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. In additional to his hospital appointments, Dr. Markenson is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the School of Public Health and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. His career has been dedicated to improving the approach to pediatric care, disaster medicine, EMS and emergency medicine. He is the Principal Investigator on several federal grants related to Pediatric Disaster Medicine. Most recently, he directed the project which created National Model Pediatric Protocols and developed National Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities. Dr. Markenson began his career as a paramedic in college, an area of medicine he still is heavily involved with today. Dr. Markenson is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. General Session- 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM NYS Report Out This session will highlight ongoing emergency preparedness initiatives involving special needs populations in the State of New York. Co-Presenters- Les Radford Recovery Manager, New York State Emergency Management Office Les Radford has been with the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) for over 25 years. Initially, he served as the Chief of Training, then Assistant Director of Preparedness (Mitigation, Planning, Training, Exercising and Radiological Emergency Preparedness), and then as Assistant Director of Operations from 1998 through 2003, (the “Ole Ops Chief”). In the fall of 2003, he was named the Human Services Branch Chief. As “The Human Services Branch Chief,” Les is the point of contact for all human services concerns and solutions related to emergencies and disasters. Les is currently responsible for not only Individual Assistance, but also heads the Public Assistance (infrastructure) and Mitigation Branches. In previous lives, he has retired from the armed services, been a college professor (MS in Management), and is a managerial consultant. He lives on a rural mountaintop near Albany, New York with his lovely and understanding wife Judy. Jim Raucci Program Administrator Division of Family Health New York State Department of Health Mr. Raucci has 30 years of public health experience at the local and state level. He has directed and overseen numerous public health programs. He currently leads a multi-state agency and private sector group that is responsible for the New York State’s Functional and Medical Need Sheltering. He is also a member of New York State’s Human Service Steering Committee. He manages the New York State Department of Health’s Division of Family Health, Child Morbidity and Mortality Prevention Program. Alexis Silver Senior Director, Policy and Development Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) Alexis Silver is Senior Director for Policy and Development and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Home Care Association of New York State. She is Chair of the Planning Committee for the New York State Functional and Medical Needs Sheltering Group, and a member of the Disaster Preparedness Commission Human Services Steering Committee. She regularly writes and lectures on emergency preparedness throughout New York and in Washington, DC, and recently served as a panelist on a Center for Disease Control "Plan First" webinex on Pandemic Influenza. She has participated in numerous emergency planning initiatives with the National Organization on Disability and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. General Session- 1:45 – 2:45 PM NJS Report Out This session will highlight ongoing emergency preparedness initiatives involving special needs populations in the State of New Jersey. Co-Presenters- Mary Goepfert, MPA, APR, CPM Instructor, NJOEM Field Training Unit Training/Special Needs/External Affairs Mary J. Goepfert has been a staff member of the NJ State Police Office of Emergency Management for 21 years. She currently serves as an Instructor and Instructional Designer in the NJOEM Field Training Unit, which delivers over different 35 emergency management training courses in various areas of the State. She also coordinates the NJOEM Special Needs Advisory Panel and other programs related to disaster preparedness for persons with disabilities and other non-typical functional needs. During disaster response and recovery periods, she serves as an External Affairs Officer for the NJOEM. She holds a BA in Social Work and a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University and an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America. She is also a Certified Public Manager (CPM). Mary is an adjunct instructor for Fairleigh Dickinson University and the NJ Department of Personnel Human Resources Development Institute. Jerry McAteer, CEM Senior Associate, Emergency Management and Special Needs Planning Delta Development Group Jerry has managed and implemented special needs evacuation plans, on-line registry and analysis software, communication and marketing strategies and shelter analysis projects in multiple states. Recently, he has spearheaded efforts to design and implement information technology solutions to support government clients at all levels including the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM), New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOSHP), Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH), various regional counter terrorism task forces, and numerous county Emergency Management Agencies to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of special needs planning, preparedness, and response efforts. Previously, Jerry spent seven years at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) as the Pennsylvania Emergency Incident Reporting System Program Manager and System Administrator. He managed complex problems associated with emergency management, information technology, government relations, conflict resolution, continuity of government planning, and homeland security challenges. Jerry implemented the Commonwealths’ first statewide incident management system. Jerry is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM). Jerry earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Excelsior College in Albany, NY, where he specialized in emergency management planning and homeland security. He is currently enrolled in a Master of Emergency and Disaster Management degree program at American Military University. Norman Smith -Chair of the NJ Statewide Independent Living Council -Member of NJ Special Needs Advisory Panel -Associate Executive Director of Project Freedom Norman A. Smith is the co-founder and Associate Executive Director of Project Freedom Inc., a non-profit agency that develops and operates affordable and barrier-free apartments for people with disabilities. He is a graduate of Long Island University, Brooklyn Center, with degrees in Journalism and Political Science. Smith has worked with the NJ Office of Emergency Management in developing a model plan for Project Freedom’s housing since 1999. He is currently serving on the Special Needs Advisory Panel for the NJ Office of Emergency Management. He Chairs the NJ Statewide Independent Living Council, a federally mandated body appointed by the governor that coordinates independent living services in the state, where he leads the Council’s efforts to bring people with disabilities into Emergency Management planning. Smith is the coordinator of the Emergency Preparedness Taskforce for the National Council on Independent Living. He was a member of the Emergency Preparedness Initiative’s East Focus Group for the National Organization on Disability in May 2005. He was also a collaborator in the “Special Needs After Action Report for TopOff 3 Drill” prepared by EAD & Associates for the US Department of Homeland Security. In addition, Smith has written numerous articles for Able Newspaper, including articles on Hurricane Katrina and other emergency preparedness topics concerning people with disabilities. Smith is married and has an eight-month old son. Scott Elliott Executive Director, Progressive Center for Independent Living Member of NJ Special Needs Advisory Panel Scott Elliot is the Executive Director of the Progressive Center for Independent Living (PCIL). The PCIL serves the NJ counties of Mercer and Hunterdon. He previously served as the Legislative Coordinator for the NJ Developmental Disabilities Council and as the Quality Assurance Manager for the DA-Tech Corporation & Staveley Technologies. He attended Mercer County Community College, The College of New Jersey, and Penn State University to study communications, engineering and business management. He has received additional training in emergency preparedness, assistive and accessible technology, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Affiliations include: NJ Association of Centers for Independent Living (Chair), NJ Special Needs Advisory Panel (SNAP)/ NJ Office of Emergency Management, NJ Special Education Advisory Council, Hunterdon County Health and Human Services Advisory Council, NJ Assistive Technology Advisory Council, Hunterdon County Committee on Disability Services, Mercer County Disability Advisory Council (Chair), Project Freedom Board of Directors, and the Lambertville NJ Local Emergency Planning Committee. He is continually interested in advocating for the rights of people with disabilities to have the same options and opportunities in the community as everyone else. General Session- 3 – 4 PM Demographics: "Understanding, Motivating and Supporting Evacuation with Special Needs Populations" Why don't people evacuate? How can emergency managers, social, and health service agencies along with other partners best understand, motivate, and support evacuation for people with special needs? This presentation walks participants through the steps people take in deciding to evacuate, identifies key decision-points for intervention, and suggests practical strategies. Presenter- Brenda D. Phillips, Ph.D. Center for the Study of Disasters and Extreme Events Fire and Emergency Management Program Department of Political Science, Oklahoma State University Brenda Phillips, Ph.D., teaches in the Fire and Emergency Management Program at Oklahoma State University where she is also a Senior Researcher with the Center for the Study of Disasters and Extreme Events. Her research on vulnerable populations has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and others. She has been published in numerous journals, including the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, Disaster Prevention and Management, Disasters, Humanity and Society, NWSA Journal, the Journal of Emergency Management, and others. Most recently she co-edited a book titled Women and Disasters and will have a second co- edited book out later this year titled Social Vulnerability to Disasters. She is the author of a forthcoming textbook titled Disaster Recovery. General Session- 4 – 5 PM Special Populations and Disasters: From the Ground to an International Perspective This open forum session will begin with a brief presentation and discussion regarding unique response and recovery efforts for persons with special needs in multiple states, followed by a discussion regarding an international initiative that focuses on the effects of a growing senior population and disasters. This session is designed to facilitate open discussion regarding future considerations for special populations in disasters. Attendees will be encouraged to provide input regarding issues related to future planning initiatives and the need for advocacy. Co-Presenters- George M. Tokesky -Vice President, Community Care Services Alzheimer’s Community Care, Inc. West Palm Beach, FL -Disaster Consultant, U.S. Administration on Aging Mr. George M. Tokesky is currently the Vice President of Community Care Services for Alzheimer’s Community Care, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that specializes in providing dementia-specific care and services to patients and caregivers residing in three Florida counties. In addition to overseeing several community-based programs, Mr. Tokesky is also the organization’s Emergency Coordinating Officer and is responsible for staffing the Palm Beach County Special Needs Shelter during disaster declarations. Before joining Alzheimer’s Community Care, Mr. Tokesky served eight years with the State of Florida – first as an elder housing expert and an Emergency Coordinating Officer for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, and then as the Special Needs Shelter Program Manager for the Florida Department of Health. During his tenure with the State, Mr. Tokesky also served on the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) as a Subject Matter Expert for Special Needs Shelters under ESF-8. Mr. Tokesky has been involved with nine federally declared disasters, both as an Emergency Coordinating Officer for the State of Florida, as well as a disaster consultant for the U.S. Administration on Aging. In 2004, when four major hurricanes made landfall in Florida, Mr. Tokesky was credited for developing a “first-in-the-nation” rapid needs assessment program for elderly hurricane victims and led the State’s efforts to close multiple Special Needs Shelters for which he received several awards. Mr. Tokesky is also credited for developing the first comprehensive discharge planning manual for Florida’s Special Needs Shelters. In 2005, Mr. Tokesky was recruited by the United States Administration on Aging (AoA) to serve as a member of the AoA Disaster Response Team and was deployed to Mississippi, Texas, and Florida to assist with the response and recovery efforts for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Most recently, Mr. Tokesky was deployed to Iowa as an AoA Disaster Consultant for the 2008 Iowa Floods. Mr. Tokesky is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert on special needs populations and disasters. In addition to serving on the International Steering Committee on Seniors and Disasters, Mr. Tokesky has presented at multiple disaster-related conferences, including the 2005 Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference; the 2006 Global Conference on Aging; and the 2007 & 2008 International Workshops on Seniors and Disasters. Mr. Tokesky was also a keynote speaker for the 2006 National Hurricane Conference and was selected to serve as an Issue Expert for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. Mr. Tokesky received his psychology degree from West Virginia University in 1993 and currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida. Michael Weston President, Servision Mr. Weston is typically described as the “spirit and conscience” of any organization that he has been a part of, and has been creating and directing programs across the expanse of Human Services for the past 30 years. His accomplishments have been varied and diverse. He has been responsible for piloting a statewide initiative to enhance the quality of care in Florida nursing homes by expanding community involvement. He has created and directed numerous community based initiatives, and is the former and founding Director of Disaster Planning and Operations for the state’s Department of Elder Affairs. He currently serves as a Disaster Consultant to the US Administration on Aging (AOA) and in that capacity has been tasked by the Department of Homeland Security as the Federal Coordinating Officer over recent presidential declared disaster events. Most recently, he deployed to the Gulf Coast region as the Director of Field Operations for AOA during hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As President of Servision, Inc. he has invented, patented and is producing the WESTCOT, the only affordable completely portable folding hospital-type bed in the world. Other products include the Special Needs Picture Board, which readily facilitates communication with victims in times of disaster. With a commitment to continuous product improvement the Servision line of products are already being utilized throughout the United States. Currently, marketing efforts for worldwide expansion are underway through an alliance with EMS Innovations. Evidence of Mr. Weston’s impact ranges from programs targeted to decrease infant mortality to the implementation of a National Demonstration Project, which dispatched and coordinated 24-hour emergency in-home services for the frail elderly at the onset of crisis. As Hurricane Andrew approached Miami-Dade County, Mr. Weston—then Director of Clinical Services for the Channeling Project (the nations’ oldest and largest nursing home diversion project)—activated and fully implemented their disaster plan over 72 hours before landfall occurred. Then, as the lead Red Cross volunteer at Dade County’s Emergency Operations Center, he coordinated and broadcast what history recorded as the largest civilian evacuation ever undertaken at the time. Mr. Weston is recognized as one of the nation’s foremost experts on Special Needs populations. He has chaired the Disaster Services Committee for the American National Red Cross, serves on the Statewide Human Research Subject Review Board, and has made numerous presentations at the national and international level. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Human Services and is constantly utilized as a consultant and educator. DAY TWO: Wednesday, August 13 Topics for Breakout Round A & B 9:45 – 10:45 AM AND 11 AM – 12 PM 1. Senior Center/Safe Center: A review of facilities already operating in Florida and Alabama Senior Center/Safe Center is a concept piloted in Alabama and now also in place in Florida which assumes a senior center within a community can be built to standards that also enable it to be a shelter in the vent of emergency. This dual-use concepts means that the physical structure is examined during the design phase, that the equipment needs are allocated for purchase, and that the staff is also trained to support both functions. This concept works well in communities where seniors are known to them and a real community response can be achieved. Co-Presenters- Michael Weston President, Servision (*See bio above.) Georgianne Cherry Government Operations Consultant, Florida Department of Health Georgianne Cherry is a Public Health Preparedness Planner for the Florida Department of Health. She is based out of the Osceola County Health Department with local, regional, and state responsibilities. The role includes preparing for and responding to natural disasters, terrorism, and other public health hazards that could jeopardize the health and safety of residents and visitors of the state, as well as first responders. Ms. Cherry does all-hazards planning, and manages Osceola County Health Department emergency operations. In addition, she coordinates the Health Department Special Needs Sheltering Program, and is the manger for The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Cities Readiness Initiative and the Medical Reserve Corps within the county. She has been a working member of the Governor’s Regional Domestic Security Task Force since its inception, is a voting member of the Urban-Area Security Initiative work group of Central Florida, and participates on state working groups and advisory panels. Ms. Cherry has over 15 years experience in Emergency Management, serving in leadership positions for the American Red Cross, coordinating fire/rescue Public Affairs, and working as an emergency management specialist. Numerous federally declared disasters worked by Ms. Cherry include Hurricane Andrew, September 11, the 2004 Florida Hurricanes, and the Groundhog Day Tornadoes. Ms. Cherry graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree from Georgia Southern University. She has had comprehensive training in Emergency Operations Response, Recovery, Planning, Mitigation, and Incident Command from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ms. Cherry also has advanced training in CDC Risk Communications and as a Public Information Officer. Ms. Cherry lives in Celebration, FL with her daughters, where she is currently pursuing her Masters Degree and a Certified Emergency Management certificate. 2. Homebased Care Agencies: An Executive Director’s experience during blackouts, 9/11 and killer mold – The importance of COOP to continue client care Home-based care agencies provide services every day to their clients and thus enable them to remain in the community with a level of support and independence. While these agencies are licensed and have an obligation for continued care to their clients, as a business, they must be prepared for interruption or outside impacts. This session will be a first hand account of the importance of creative problem solving moving into codified planning by an agency executive who has been at the helm through a range of emergencies and disaster. Presenter- Levester Burnley Executive Director, Stella Orton Home Care Agency 3. Special Needs Shelter Discharge Planning: Developing an Exit Strategy Based on Available Resources This break out session will focus on discharge planning issues related to Special Needs Shelter operations before, during, and after a disaster declaration has been made. The session will include a summary of lessons learned by the State of Florida and other Gulf Coast States during the 2004-2005 Hurricane Seasons, as well as what innovative discharge planning initiatives have developed as a result. The session will also include a discussion regarding shelter best practices and strategies to develop a special needs shelter exit plan that will facilitate the timely closure of special needs shelters and ensure the appropriate post shelter care for displaced special needs shelter patients and caregivers. Presenter- George M. Tokesky Disaster Consultant U.S. Administration on Aging (*Bio posted above.) 4. FEMA Special Needs Unit: Why it came about, what it has done, and what you need to know This session covers how FEMA and partners help people with special needs on presidentially declared federal/state disasters to aid individuals and families. It will take a look at three disasters, Katrina, and the current Iowa floods. The focus is on accessibility issues, how-to, lessons learned, and the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act. Presenter- Marianne Jackson Federal Coordinating Officer, FEMA Region II Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) Marianne C. Jackson is one of 39 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FCOs nationwide who head disaster operations on behalf of the President. Assigned to FEMA in New York City, Ms. Jackson directs disaster operations in Region II and in other parts of the country. For the 2007 hurricane season, Jackson was predesignated by DHS/FEMA as FCO for New York State, working closely with Federal Principal Official George Naccara. Ms. Jackson is also predesignated as FCO for Pandemic Influenza for Region A (FEMA Regions I and II). For Katrina, Ms. Jackson initially served in San Antonio, Texas, supporting over 12,000 Katrina evacuees. Ms. Jackson was then assigned to the New Orleans Area Office, covering the hardest-hit parishes. Ms. Jackson served as Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer on the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center federal disaster operation, representing FEMA at numerous public meetings in lower Manhattan, at the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works field hearing, and at The National Academies’ Lessons Learned forum in Washington, D.C. Ms. Jackson has been a keynote speaker on many occasions, including New York City Special Needs meetings, Virginia Department of Emergency Management seminars, and five workshops throughout Australia sponsored by Emergency Management Australia to discuss the 9/11 Lessons Learned. A career emergency management professional, Ms. Jackson joined FEMA in 1981 as Public Affairs/Congressional Relations Officer in Region II. She was selected for the FCO program in July of 1999. Ms. Jackson has served on more than 100 federal disasters declared by the President throughout the country, including numerous large-scale operations, such as Hurricanes Iniki, Marilyn and Floyd, and the Northridge earthquake. She is a recognized expert on urban disasters. Her initiatives include establishing a telephone disaster application center in Puerto Rico to serve Spanish-speaking disaster victims throughout the U.S., and designing and implementing FEMA’s first Special Needs program to support older adults and people with physical or psychological disabilities on disasters. Ms. Jackson is credentialed at the Type II level under the Incident Management System. Her recognitions include FEMA's Meritorious Service Award, the New York Federal Executive Board Award, and awards from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the American Red Cross, and the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York. Ms. Jackson holds an undergraduate degree and a Masters Degree. She and her husband live in New York City. 5. EMT training overview, “An Introduction to Patients with Disabilities” This is an introductory course to familiarize the EMT-B with common disabilities, adaptive equipment, and special considerations for communication and care of patients with disabilities. The need to determine what is ‘normal’ for this patient will be addressed. Co-Presenters- Carina Marzec, BA, EMT-B Service Coordinator, National Church Residences, Low Income Senior Housing (Section 8/202 and PRAC) Mark Moskaluk Educator, Community Safety Consultants Don R. Ruprecht, Jr. Conner Strong Risk Control Ms. Marzec is a New Jersey EMT-Basic with experience in both volunteer and private ambulance services. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Psychology, with a major concentration in Forensic Psychology. Ms. Marzec has a unique vantage point, which serves as the basis for the programs she and her colleagues have underway. In 2001, Ms. Marzec sustained a traumatic brain injury while working as an EMT. During the course of her recovery, her perspective evolved to encompass the experiences of not only being a care provider, but of being an individual with a disability who was receiving care. Ms. Marzec sees a pressing need for additional training in special considerations for the emergency assessment, treatment, and transport of individuals with disabilities for Emergency Medical Technicians and other first responders who may provide emergency care or evacuation in an emergency. She is the author of the NJ EMT-B CEU course, “An Introduction to Patients with Disabilities,” an introductory course offered exclusively through Community Safety Consultants, a training center located in Metuchen, New Jersey. Her co-instructor, and owner of Community Safety Consultants, Mark Moskaluk, brings 25 years experience as a Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic to the course and his creativity in developing one-of-a-kind training aids to simulate skills unique to providing emergency care for individuals with disabilities. Assistant instructor Don Ruprecht, Jr. brings over 20 years of fire service experience, is a Certified NJ Fire Instructor Level II, Senior Loss Control Consultant for Conner Strong Risk Control Services, and serves as the consultant for developing disability training programs geared towards fire departments. Through their combined professional and personal experiences, Ms. Marzec and her colleagues offer innovative and interactive training to emergency responders to expand their knowledge and comfort interacting with individuals with disabilities, making the experience better for all involved. General Session- 1:30 – 2:30 PM DOJ Toolkit Chapter 7 on Emergency Management under Title II of the ADA Presenter- Dov Lutzker Special Counsel Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section U.S. Department of Justice Dov Lutzker is Special Counsel to the Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice. In his senior management role, he helps direct the Section’s Project Civic Access initiative, the Department’s wide-ranging initiative to bring state and local governments into compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. He also helps direct the investigation and resolution of administrative complaints alleging violation of the ADA by state and local governments and private entities known as public accommodations. Mr. Lutzker has served at the Department of Justice for over seven years, litigating ADA cases as a trial attorney and serving in the Section’s investigations unit. Before that, he was an attorney and fellow at the California Protection & Advocacy, where he represented Californians with disabilities in impact litigation and provided other legal advocacy services. Apart from his DOJ position, Mr. Lutzker is also the Chair of the Arlington Disability Advisory Commission, a citizen advisory group which advises the County government on ways to meet the needs of people with disabilities. General Session- 2:45 – 3:45 PM Implications of Pandemic Influenza for People with Disabilities This presentation focuses on issues for people with disabilities that must be taken into account by public health and other personnel in planning and response to pandemic influenza. These issues include: 1) the lack of data on which to base plans and evaluate response; 2) the inadequacy of emergency preparedness plans at all governmental levels with regard to this population; 3) personal and environmental factors that increase risk for people with disabilities; 4) the substantial number of people with disabilities who reside in congregate care or group facilities; 5) the number of people with disabilities who require on-going support and the potential impact of disruptions to needed services and supports, some critical; 6) the accessibility of risk communications; 7) concerns in the disability community regarding the adequacy of planning and ethical issues that bear on those plans. Presenter- Vincent Campbell Acting Chief, Disability and Health Branch Division of Human Development and Disabilities National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Vincent A. Campbell is Acting Chief of the Disability and Health Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to taking this position on in March 2008, Dr. Campbell served as Associate Director for Science in the Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at CDC, through which he was responsible for excellence of the scientific work of the division staff. He began his career at CDC in 1997 as a health scientist in what was then the Office of Disability and Health, National Center for Environmental Health. His work includes health surveillance among people with disabilities and epidemiologic research to identify risks for poor health in this population. He has worked with numerous interagency and interdepartmental committees on issues related to the health and safety of people with disability. He was CDC’s liaison for Surgeon General Satcher’s initiative on improving the health of people with intellectual disability. He has published a number of papers and book chapters and spoken at numerous national meetings on health surveillance and comparative health status of people with disabilities. Dr. Campbell serves as a subject matter expert on disability with the Coordinating Office on Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness at CDC, the American Red Cross, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability related to emergency preparedness and disability. Before coming to CDC, Dr. Campbell was Director of Data Analysis and Research with the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and Senior Scientist at the Civitan International Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He earned his doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Alabama. Most Recent Publications: Armour BS, Campbell VA, Crews JE, Malarcher A, Maurice E, Richard RA. (2007, October). StateState-Level Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Treatment Advice, by Disability Status, United States, 2004. Preventing Chronic Disease, 4, (4). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2007/oct/06_0179.htm. Jamoom EW, Horner-Johnson W, Suzuki R, Andresen EM & Campbell Erik W Jamoom1§, Willi Horner-Johnson2, Rie Suzuki2, Elena M Andresen & Campbell VA and the RRTC Expert Panel on Health Status Measurement (2007). Age at disability onset and health-related quality of life. BMC Public Health. Crews JE & Campbell VA. (2004). Vision impairment and hearing loss among community-dwelling older Americans: Implications for health and functioning. American Journal of Public Health, 94, 823-829. Crews JE & Campbell VA. (2003). Effects of Multiple Health Conditions Upon Function among Older Visually Impaired People, Proceedings of the 2002 International Conference: Developing and Delivering Quality Service for Frail Older Blind and Partially Sighted People. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind. Crews JE & Campbell VA. (2004). Vision impairment and hearing loss among community-dwelling older Americans: Implications for health and functioning. American Journal of Public Health, 94, 823-829. Campbell VA, Crews JE, & Sinclair LB. (2002). State Specific Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults with Disability–8 States and the District of Columbia. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 51 (36), 805-808. Campbell VA & Fedeyko HJ. (2001). The Healthy People 2010 process: difficulties related to surveillance and data collection. In: Tymchuk AJ, Lakin KC, Luckasson R, editors. The forgotten generation: the status and challenges of adults with mild cognitive limitations. (p. 221-246). Baltimore (MD): Paul H. Brookes. General Session- 3:45 – 4:45 PM National Center on Accessible Media – Latest Technology The WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) has led a four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to inform a universal design for the nation's information and emergency alert systems. Awarded to NCAM for its legacy in uniting consumer and industry to influence policy, standards, and technology on behalf of people with sensory disabilities, the grant will conclude in September 2008. This session will highlight the project's body of work that includes industry, consumer and social science research; an information requirements model for accessible messaging; and recommendations developed for the FCC Commercial Mobile Alert Advisory Committee. NCAM's related federal grant work to research and prototype media access solutions to make information accessible to all consumers at home, work, and in transit will also be presented. Presenter- Marcia Brooks Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media WGBH—Boston Marcia Brooks is Project Director for the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH. She currently leads the grant project "Access to Emergency Alerts for People with Disabilities," funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and contributes to other federal grants that research and prototype media access solutions, including: “Access to Locally Televised On-Screen Information;” and NPR’s “Accessible Digital Radio Broadcast Services.” She also led a multi-year grant funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to develop PBCore, a metadata standard for public broadcasting and related institutions worldwide involved in digital content. Ms. Brooks previously served as a senior strategist at a leading Internet marketing agency, consulting for clients, including America Online and Lockheed Martin. She has held various management positions at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and led the development of e-mail and intranet services for the nation's public television stations. She has also served as a consultant for National Public Radio (NPR), and has worked on diversity initiatives for PBS and WGBH. Ms. Brooks has a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of Massachusetts. Conference Coordinator & Facilitator Elizabeth Davis Founder & Managing Director, EAD & Associates, LLC Elizabeth Davis is an emergency management consultant specializing in Special Needs planning, disaster human services and related issues through her firm EAD & Associates, LLC in New York. Ms. Davis received her JD from Boston University School of Law and her EdM from Boston University School of Education with a degree in the Socio-Bicultural Study of Deafness and American Sign Language. She holds an undergraduate degree with a major in Sociology and a minor in Political Science from Barnard College at Columbia University. After many years as an advocate in the disability community, she began public service after law school with the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities as Assistant to Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor. Due to her role as Incident Commander in the Deaf Mexican Nationals slave-ring case in Queens, she was transferred to the NYC Office of Emergency Management as Special Needs Advisor. There she was responsible for ensuring that all elements of planning, response and recovery incorporated the unique needs of the disability community, senior population, and medically dependent persons. She functioned in this capacity overseeing the Board of Education Y2K planning; planning for city-wide sheltering operations; coordinating transit strike/disruption responses; coordinating the public information lines during the West Nile virus outbreaks and throughout the events of September 11th. Ms. Davis now consults for public jurisdictions and agencies, private businesses, home based care agencies, residential health care organizations. She retired as the first Director of the National Organization on Disability’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative but remains an advisor to DHS and FEMA, sits on several national advisory boards, has been a court appointed subject matter expert, participates in many major conferences and web forums and has had materials published on the subject of Special Needs emergency preparedness and is a guest instructor to several emergency management graduate programs in addition to the recipient of several awards and commendations. Ms. Davis is the co-chair of the National Hurricane Conference Health Care/Special Needs Committee, chair of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Special Needs Committee, and served a two- year term as appointed chair of the FCC’s CAC Homeland Security Committee, is an appointed member of the FEMA National Advisory Council’s Special Needs Subcommittee, to list a few active roles she maintains. As an accomplished public speaker with a reputation for creative solution development, Ms. Davis is considered one of the nation’s “go-to” sources for emergency management and special needs issues. Her firm was responsible to get rapid assessment teams on the ground in four Gulf States after Katrina and provide an immediate action report for the federal authorities regarding immediate health and special needs impacts. This team model for communicating special needs information during a disaster is now being replicated across many federal agencies. Ms. Davis grew up in San Francisco but now resides in Brooklyn with her husband and two young daughters where she remains active in community affairs.