REAADI:

• Ensures there is a strong disability and older adult voice throughout the preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation of disasters;
• Includes universal design and visitability standards, as well as reasonable modifications before, during and after disasters;
• Creates a network of disaster and disability centers focused on training, technical assistance, and research to assist states and localities to better include and support disaster-impacted people with disabilities, older adults and others who also have access and functional needs;
• Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the spending of disaster funds by federal agencies and states to ensure funds have been spent in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA);
• Creates a competitive grant program to pilot strategies for greater inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults and people with access and functional needs throughout disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation;
• Requires the Department of Justice to examine how the civil rights of people with disabilities and older adults are or are not upheld during and following disasters;
• Establishes in statute the Crisis Standards of Care issued by Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) during the pandemic and to apply those standards to all public health emergencies and disasters; and
• Establishes a role for Centers for Independent Living throughout local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.