The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only national disability-led organization with a focused mission of equal access to emergency and disaster programs before, during, and after disasters for people with disabilities. We are the nation’s experts on disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion throughout all phases of disaster operations.
A photo from the 2018 Getting It Right Conference. A large conference room with a diverse audience sitting at round tables. The stage has 7 panelists and a screen showing another 7 panelists. The stage has a ramp and CART screen on the left.
Our Background:
In early 2017, the Partnership was launched to address an ongoing crisis, where the disability and aging community leaders realized no one was inviting us to disaster planning tables. We decided to act.
16 disasters caused approximately $306 billion in damage
Wildfires in California and other western states added $18 billion in damage.
3 Major Hurricanes: Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Harvey flooded Houston and other parts of Texas, leaving $125 billion worth of destruction.
Hurricanes Irma and Maria added another $140 billion
2017 was the most expensive year on record for wildfires and hurricanes.
In 2017, the U.S. experienced a historic year of weather and climate disasters. In total, the U.S. was impacted by 16 separate billion-dollar disaster events including three tropical cyclones, eight severe storms, two inland floods, a crop freeze, drought, and wildfires.The 14 separate U.S. billion-dollar disasters in 2018 represent the 4th highest total number of events, behind only the years 2017 (16 events), 2011 (16) and 2016 (15). The most recent years of 2018, 2017 and 2016 have all been historic in the number of billion-dollar disasters that have impacted the U.S. – totaling 45 separate events.
The Partnership's initiatives reveal disturbing patterns:
Federal and State disaster spending too often fails to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Older adults and people with disabilities are two to four times more likely to be injured or to lose their lives in disasters. These are preventable.
During disasters, the Partnership and our stakeholders from across the country mobilized with daily teleconferences to assist people with disabilities, older adults and others who also have access and functional needs in disaster-impacted areas.
Bringing disability stakeholders together from around the country, showcased how disaster infrastructure neglects people with disabilities and older adults. Together, we forged solutions with our allies
The Disability & Disaster Hotline
Call: (800) 626-4959
The Partnership started a Disaster Hotline the day after Hurricane Harvey made landfall and its been operating 24/7 ever since to assist disaster impacted people with disabilities.
The Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies and organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs.
The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at (800) 626-4959 and info@disasterstrategies.org. Our knowledgeable team responds to calls as soon as possible, often immediately, and we intend to respond to all callers within 24 hours.
During the first 6 months of operation, the Hotline received, and resolved, over 3,000 calls from disaster-impacted individuals with disabilities looking for support.
The Partnership's Civil Rights Focus
Although all federal money, including the funds spent on disasters, is required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, in disasters, without exception, there is no meaningful accountability to ensure emergency programs and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities and older adults throughout preparedness, response, and recovery.
We've seen many ways civil rights are violated in disaster response:
Emergency alerts may not be accessible or fail to provide actionable information to people with sensory, intellectual, communication and mental health disabilities.
Health maintenance is denied, resulting in preventable deterioration of health, safety, and independence.
Individuals are denied access to shelters with their service animals.
Older adults and disabled individuals, who lived independently before a disaster, may be sent to a nursing home against their will.
Shelters may have accessibility barriers, such as toilets and showers that are inaccessible to people with mobility disabilities.
The Partnership advocates for monitoring and enforcement of all federal disaster spending in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 without exception.
In the Partnership's first two years we've led grassroots initiatives to drive change but it became clear: there is a critical need for the United States to invest in disaster infrastructure that will meaningfully address the needs of persons with disabilities and aging communities.
NCIL, is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 60 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation
Center for American Progress (CAP)
The Center for American Progress, CAP, is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. "Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country."
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
About Us
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only national disability-led organization with a focused mission of equal access to emergency and disaster programs before, during, and after disasters for people with disabilities. We are the nation’s experts on disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion throughout all phases of disaster operations.
Our Background:
In early 2017, the Partnership was launched to address an ongoing crisis, where the disability and aging community leaders realized no one was inviting us to disaster planning tables. We decided to act.
Meanwhile, 2017 was also an unprecedented year of disasters in the United States:
2017 was the most expensive year on record for wildfires and hurricanes.
In 2017, the U.S. experienced a historic year of weather and climate disasters. In total, the U.S. was impacted by 16 separate billion-dollar disaster events including three tropical cyclones, eight severe storms, two inland floods, a crop freeze, drought, and wildfires.
The Partnership's initiatives reveal disturbing patterns:
During disasters, the Partnership and our stakeholders from across the country mobilized with daily teleconferences to assist people with disabilities, older adults and others who also have access and functional needs in disaster-impacted areas.
Bringing disability stakeholders together from around the country, showcased how disaster infrastructure neglects people with disabilities and older adults. Together, we forged solutions with our allies
The Disability & Disaster Hotline
Call: (800) 626-4959
The Partnership started a Disaster Hotline the day after Hurricane Harvey made landfall and its been operating 24/7 ever since to assist disaster impacted people with disabilities.
The Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies and organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs.
The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at (800) 626-4959 and info@disasterstrategies.org. Our knowledgeable team responds to calls as soon as possible, often immediately, and we intend to respond to all callers within 24 hours.
During the first 6 months of operation, the Hotline received, and resolved, over 3,000 calls from disaster-impacted individuals with disabilities looking for support.
The Partnership's Civil Rights Focus
Although all federal money, including the funds spent on disasters, is required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, in disasters, without exception, there is no meaningful accountability to ensure emergency programs and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities and older adults throughout preparedness, response, and recovery.
We've seen many ways civil rights are violated in disaster response:
The Partnership advocates for monitoring and enforcement of all federal disaster spending in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 without exception.
In 2018, we published a report, Getting It Wrong: An Indictment with a Blueprint for Getting it Right, to review and document the experiences and civil rights violations of people with disabilities in the 2017 disasters.
REAADI & DRMA
In the Partnership's first two years we've led grassroots initiatives to drive change but it became clear: there is a critical need for the United States to invest in disaster infrastructure that will meaningfully address the needs of persons with disabilities and aging communities.
The Partnership, our members and allies worked with Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania to develop and promote disaster legislation that prioritizes the lives and rights of people with disabilities, older adults and many others who also have access and functional needs. Our Portlight Fellowships allowed us to place Fellows at the American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Council on Independent Living and the Center for American Progress to provide input into the Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act (REAADI) and the Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA).
REAADI & DRMA Partners
National Council for Independent Living (NCIL)
NCIL, is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 60 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation
Center for American Progress (CAP)
The Center for American Progress, CAP, is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. "Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country."
Follow us on social media!
Follow us on Twitter
My Tweets