How do families and organizations prepare for meeting the needs of children with access and functional needs, and their families, in a disaster or emergency? Following the final report from the National Commission for Children and Disasters (NCCD) in October, 2010, one area of targeted need was increase the available resources for children with access and functional needs, and their families, when faced with the impact of an unexpected emergency, or disaster. This website provides several resource guidance and planning documents, or tools, for families, emergency managers, shelter workers, and organizations that support children with access and functional needs, and their families or care providers, when faced with disaster-related decisions, such as sheltering-in-place, evacuation, and staying in a general shelter. The direction of these efforts is intended to ensure that children with access and functional needs, and their supports, will not be segregated from emergency preparedness planning but will be incorporated into whole community planning policies and processes that include the appropriate and necessary accommodations for children in disasters or emergencies.
To support children with access and functional needs, and their families, the following planning tools are available and can be downloaded: