Currently, people with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely to be critically or fatally injured in a disaster. Despite this, effective response efforts and support focused on people with disabilities, older adults and others who also have access and functional needs are lacking.
As extreme weather events become increasingly common and more devastating, the 26% of the U.S. population, people with disabilities, the increasing population of adults over 65, and others who also have access and functional needs must be included throughout all aspects of emergency planning, disaster response, recovery, and mitigation. Their lives and the resilience of their community depend on it.
The Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act (REAADI) and The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA) will work together to provide solutions that help individuals maintain their health, safety, and independence before, during, and after disasters by:
Funding research;
Developing and delivering technical assistance and training;
Creating a national commission with people with disabilities, older adults, experts on disability inclusive emergency management and government and community stakeholders to provide guidance on disability and aging issues before, during and after disasters;
Providing uninterrupted access to Medicaid services when recipients must evacuate across state lines;
Department of Justice review of ADA non-compliance settlement agreements in preparedness, response and recovery efforts;
Government Accountability review of federal funds expended in disasters to ensure compliance with Rehabilitation Act requirements.
(See document comparing REAADI, introduced in the 116th Congress, and READI introduced in the 115th Congress. REAADI Compared to READI)
READI was authored by Senator Casey with the active involvement of the Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies, the nation’s only membership organization with a focus on the rights of people with disabilities before, during and after disasters. The Partnership’s members and many allies across the country worked together to identify the areas in which gaps in meeting the needs of disaster impacted people must be filled through legislation.
In the 116th Congress, the bill has been updated and it will be introduced as REAADI, the Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act. The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act will be introduced concurrently.
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.
What is REAADI?
REAADI Today
Currently, people with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely to be critically or fatally injured in a disaster. Despite this, effective response efforts and support focused on people with disabilities, older adults and others who also have access and functional needs are lacking.
As extreme weather events become increasingly common and more devastating, the 26% of the U.S. population, people with disabilities, the increasing population of adults over 65, and others who also have access and functional needs must be included throughout all aspects of emergency planning, disaster response, recovery, and mitigation. Their lives and the resilience of their community depend on it.
The Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act (REAADI) and The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act (DRMA) will work together to provide solutions that help individuals maintain their health, safety, and independence before, during, and after disasters by:
Senator Bob Casey’s DRAFT REAADI One Page Summary
(If disseminating, please ensure the DRAFT watermark is retained.)
Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
DRMA Full Text
Senator Bob Casey’s DRMA One Page Summary
One Page Summary
Legislative Background
The previous bill, Readying Elders and Americans with Disabilities Inclusively for Disasters Act (READI) S.3679 was introduced in the 115th Congress by Senator Bob Casey (PA) and co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (IL), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Patty Murray (WA) and Maggie Hassan (NH).
(See document comparing REAADI, introduced in the 116th Congress, and READI introduced in the 115th Congress. REAADI Compared to READI)
READI was authored by Senator Casey with the active involvementof the Partnership For Inclusive Disaster Strategies, the nation’s only membership organization with a focus on the rights of people with disabilities before, during and after disasters. The Partnership’s members and many allies across the country worked together to identify the areas in which gaps in meeting the needs of disaster impacted people must be filled through legislation.
In the 116th Congress, the bill has been updated and it will be introduced as REAADI, the Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act. The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act will be introduced concurrently.
Learn more about the original bill below.
Follow us on social media!
Follow us on Twitter
My Tweets