Ready to Roll Disaster Relief for Wheelchair Users

About This Project

Summary

Nearly 50% of wheelchair users impacted by disasters lose access to necessary medications or assistive devices, and 85% feel excluded from community disaster preparedness efforts, leaving them unprepared when emergencies strike. These issues are preventable. Our approach to disaster relief is three-fold: • Provide direct assistance to affected wheelchair users. • Provide planning resources to help them prepare before a disaster. • Collaborate with emergency preparedness organizations to improve

Goals & Objectives

• Provide disaster relief grants to wheelchair users • Create emergency disability-focused preparedness resources • Assist governments and organizations in disability-focused emergency preparedness activities • Review state and local emergency management plans

Results & Impact

We assisted 100 wheelchair users affected by disasters, including replacing expensive mobility equipment, ramps and roofs. And, our monthly Emergency Preparedness Working Group convenes wheelchair users, government officials and other stakeholders to create resources and advise policy-makers.