From JDIN Advisory board member, Rabbi Michael Levy:
In Disasters, we must battle to save the lives of the disabled and non-disabled alike
The Torah in Leviticus affirms the supreme value of every human life. All the thoughts below uphold that value.
Before rushing to finalize a wildfire plan, consult those of us with disabilities and the organizations WE lead—not our parents, not our paras, not those who say they know us better than we know ourselves.
Some of us have experienced disaster (9-11, the blizzard of January 1996, the power black-out of 2003.)
Visit: Disability & Disaster - National Council on Independent Living
To help the disabled during wildfires is commendable. To empower them is crucial. They may need to make choices on their own. Consider:
The Downside of Producing Scripts, Plans, and Drills for groups of people with disabilities
A “one size fits all” script might not work when chaos prevails.
In previous disasters, some people with disabilities did not fare well when they were told to “wait for help.”
The helpers never came. They panicked or became confused. Sadly, the pathway to their “charges” was blocked.
Some actions are simple yet contrary to conventional thinking:
Take any pathway down. Flames rise. This has implications for those who must use elevators.
Depending on your house, you may fare better staying in it, filling the house with wet towels and other water sources to dilute the smoke.
Drills should focus on ONE PERSON and his or her family or others in his job or support system.
What do I do if I am lost?
Where should I meet my family if we become separated?
In a housefire, it might be necessary to climb out a window and drop to the ground outside.
My parents conducted such drills. It was fun!
While a fire extinguisher might not help in a wildfire, it could help in a housefire.
Practice actions to take if a fire starts burning your clothes, hair, or shoes.
Technology:
In these turbulent times, when civil disruptions and public transportation disturbances cause re-routing, consider having a person with a disability use or at least wear a tracking device. No matter if Timmy goes into one of his famous tantrums. He MUST wear a tracking device if he wants to take the bus to his favorite grill.
Some difficult but unavoidable scenarios
If danger is imminent, first responders (even if they know about disability sensitivity) will need to be “harsh.” It’s Humiliating to be hoisted from your wheelchair and carried over someone’s shoulders like a sack of potatoes, but it could save your life on a fire escape.
You may love your guide dog, your therapy animal, or your pet, but your safety is more important than theirs.
There are no quiet rooms in a conflagration.
If Ben displays disruptive behavior that endangers himself or others, he may need to be gently moved aside against his will.
Call To Action:
JDIN Readers Must Continue the discussion
The above sounds easy in theory but needs proven experts to put it into practice. Parents, intuitive siblings, educators, and “people first” professionals might want to exchange ideas.
Longer-Range Suggestions
People with disabilities and their families could meet first responders. They need to see us as persons, not stereotypes from movies or myths.
There are those among us who miss the content of a message if it is yelled into our ears as if we are small children.
A blind person might be more comfortable in the dark than some sighted individuals.
How about sharing a snack, a joke, a game of catch, predictions about the 2025 Dodgers. How about (age-appropriate) hide-and-seek.
After all, we’re people just like responders. We just happen to have disabilities.
My Prayer:
Most of all, we need God’s Compassion. WE seek wisdom to avoid mistakes which might have added to the fierceness of the flames, and to live WITH OUR Earth as humble tenants and not ruthless landlords.
From JDIN Advisory board member, Rabbi Michael Levy:
In Disasters, we must battle to save the lives of the disabled and non-disabled alike
The Torah in Leviticus affirms the supreme value of every human life. All the thoughts below uphold that value.
Before rushing to finalize a wildfire plan, consult those of us with disabilities and the organizations WE lead—not our parents, not our paras, not those who say they know us better than we know ourselves.
Some of us have experienced disaster (9-11, the blizzard of January 1996, the power black-out of 2003.)
Visit: Disability & Disaster - National Council on Independent Living
To help the disabled during wildfires is commendable. To empower them is crucial. They may need to make choices on their own. Consider:
The Downside of Producing Scripts, Plans, and Drills for groups of people with disabilities
A “one size fits all” script might not work when chaos prevails.
In previous disasters, some people with disabilities did not fare well when they were told to “wait for help.”
The helpers never came. They panicked or became confused. Sadly, the pathway to their “charges” was blocked.
Some actions are simple yet contrary to conventional thinking:
Take any pathway down. Flames rise. This has implications for those who must use elevators.
Depending on your house, you may fare better staying in it, filling the house with wet towels and other water sources to dilute the smoke.
Drills should focus on ONE PERSON and his or her family or others in his job or support system.
What do I do if I am lost?
Where should I meet my family if we become separated?
In a housefire, it might be necessary to climb out a window and drop to the ground outside.
My parents conducted such drills. It was fun!
While a fire extinguisher might not help in a wildfire, it could help in a housefire.
Practice actions to take if a fire starts burning your clothes, hair, or shoes.
Technology:
In these turbulent times, when civil disruptions and public transportation disturbances cause re-routing, consider having a person with a disability use or at least wear a tracking device. No matter if Timmy goes into one of his famous tantrums. He MUST wear a tracking device if he wants to take the bus to his favorite grill.
Some difficult but unavoidable scenarios
If danger is imminent, first responders (even if they know about disability sensitivity) will need to be “harsh.” It’s Humiliating to be hoisted from your wheelchair and carried over someone’s shoulders like a sack of potatoes, but it could save your life on a fire escape.
You may love your guide dog, your therapy animal, or your pet, but your safety is more important than theirs.
There are no quiet rooms in a conflagration.
If Ben displays disruptive behavior that endangers himself or others, he may need to be gently moved aside against his will.
Call To Action:
JDIN Readers Must Continue the discussion
The above sounds easy in theory but needs proven experts to put it into practice. Parents, intuitive siblings, educators, and “people first” professionals might want to exchange ideas.
Longer-Range Suggestions
People with disabilities and their families could meet first responders. They need to see us as persons, not stereotypes from movies or myths.
There are those among us who miss the content of a message if it is yelled into our ears as if we are small children.
A blind person might be more comfortable in the dark than some sighted individuals.
How about sharing a snack, a joke, a game of catch, predictions about the 2025 Dodgers. How about (age-appropriate) hide-and-seek.
After all, we’re people just like responders. We just happen to have disabilities.
My Prayer:
Most of all, we need God’s Compassion. WE seek wisdom to avoid mistakes which might have added to the fierceness of the flames, and to live WITH OUR Earth as humble tenants and not ruthless landlords.