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Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Developmental or Cognitive Difficulties National Organization on Disabilities Page 2 of 2

Sheltering Tips
Persons with developmental or cognitive disabilities have a right under the Americans
with Disabilities Act to use general public shelters. Since such disabilities may not be visible, follow these suggestions:

  • Consult the shelter doctor or nurse if you believe your medication (or the lack thereof) is creating medical problems.
  • If you have an audio perceptual disability, work particularly hard to understand the
  • environment. Watch body language so you will know when it’s a good time to ask a question of a shelter staff member or other occupant.
  • Some learning disabilities can cause people to say the first thing that pops into their head, so think carefully before you speak. People under the stress of shelter life may not understand your condition.

Ready Kit and Go Bag

A Ready Kit is a comprehensive list of items, such as medication, that you will need if you should have to shelter in place, or rely on your own resources for a few days. A Go Bag has fewer items, but they are most essential to take if you must evacuate quickly.

See the N.O.D. guide, “Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities,” for a list of suggested supplies. The American Red Cross also has a comprehensive checklist of supplies.

Here are a few items of particular interest to people with developmental or cognitive disability:

  • Alternate power source or spare batteries for communication device
  • Paper and writing materials
  • A favorite item (e.g., small videogame or book) to help you maintain focus while waiting in lines

Where to find more information

Many of these agencies provide materials in large font, audio or video cassette formats, and different languages.

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org • call your local chapter

Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities: Project Cope
www.ldonline.org

Easter Seals (s.a.f.e.t.y. First program)
www.easter-seals.org • (800)221-6827 (voice) • (312)726-4258 (TTY)

Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/plan/ • (800)480-2520 (voice)

Humane Society of the U.S. (Disaster Center)
www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/ • (202)452-1100 (voice)

NOAA Weather Radio
www.weather.gov/nwer/special_needs.htm

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
www.ready.gov • (800)BE READY (voice) • (800)464-6161 (TTY)

The National Organization on Disability gratefully acknowledges support from Bush Clinton Katrina Fund for NOD's Emergency Preparedness Initiative and for this publication. NOD also thanks Alcoa Foundation, American International Group, JCPenney Company Fund, the UPS Foundation, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for making this publication possible.

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From the National Organization on Disabilities. Used with permission. www.nod.org.

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