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About IDEA EM

In July of 2004, President Bush signed Executive Order #13347 directing that Federal agencies must include people with disabilities in all levels of national preparedness. The order established the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) to oversee this initiative. Among its primary purposes, the ICC, chaired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), facilitates coordination among Federal agencies and departments while energizing work concerning disability and aging issues. Several agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission and the Departments of Transportation, Education, Justice, Labor, and Health and Human Services, have made significant process in building momentum towards greater inclusion of disability and aging issues in emergency management planning and practice.

From Left to Right: DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, ADD Commissioner Patricia Morrissey; Alex Michael Azar II, Deputy Secretary, DHHS; Daniel W. Sutherland, JD, the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, DHS

In June 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in partnership with the DHS, presented the Working Conference on Emergency Management and Individuals with Disabilities and the Elderly. Sponsors of the conference included DHHS’ Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration on Aging, Office on Disability, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Children’s Bureau, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Administration for Children and Families, the Social Security Administration, and the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Since the conference, work has continued in individual States. Federal agencies and interagency groups and private organizations also have worked to ensure their emergency planning encompasses special needs populations.

FEMA representative talking with resident at site of a disaster The goal of this IDEA EM site, sponsored by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, is to highlight these efforts. Many States have sent quarterly reports describing their work and these can be seen on the >>State Reports page on this site. In addition, the >>Resources page contains links to a variety of information sources. If you have a resource or event you believe should be included on this site, please contact us and let us know.

While the destructive and deadly hurricane season of 2005 was the trigger which prompted nationwide action on the issue, the need to ensure that all individuals are included in emergency planning spans all disasters, all geographic regions, and time.