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<font size=2>I have been asked to widely circulate the
following:<br><br>
David Andrews, List Owner<br><br>
<a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><br>
<a name="OLE_LINK1"></a>I have been asked to help with developing a
training program and manual for first responders in New York State being
conducted through Niagara University. This will cover all
disability groups, but my part focuses primarily on all areas concerning
people with visual impairment and blindness and our experiences with
police, fire and EMS workers, Include any experiences that you have had
with emergency preparedness issues. We would like to
hear from New York State residents who are blind or visually impaired no
matter how insignificant you think your story is. Include
incidences with guide dogs, reporting criminal activities against you,
your own contacts with first responders , and how you were treated and so
on. a more complete explanation of the program is below.<br>
<br>
I am including a survey below that will help guide you. Please
consider taking a few moments to think about this and send me your
completed survey. You can send it to me privately
at
<a href="mailto:blindfirstresponderny@verizon.net">
blindfirstresponderny@verizon.net</a> <br><br>
or if you are more comfortable contacting him yourself<br><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times">David V. Whalen<br><br>
Statewide Project Coordinator <br><br>
</font>First-Responders Disability Awareness Training<br><br>
Niagara University, NY<br><br>
716-286-7355 <br><br>
<div align="center"><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>
<a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><a href="mailto:dwhalen@niagara.edu">
dwhalen@niagara.edu</a><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><br><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"><b> <br><br>
Niagara University<br><br>
First Responder Disability Awareness Training<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
<b>Niagara University<br><br>
First Responder Disability Awareness Training<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
</div>
Niagara University (NU) has received the New York State Developmental
Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) First Responder (FR) Disability
Awareness Training (DAT) grant. Over the course of the next three years
we will be developing the curriculum for law enforcement, fire fighters,
and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in regards to proper response to
individuals with disabilities (IWDs) and all that this entails. Included
in this curriculum will be Emergency Management (EM) and the needs that
go with serving IWDs in emergency and disaster situations.<br><br>
<br><br>
NU has hired David Whalen, Disability Awareness Training, as the
Statewide Project Coordinator to oversee this project. David has been
training First Responders for the past five years. NU and Mr. Whalen were
awarded a grant from Verizon to train law enforcement in 2006. David is
actively involved in many areas of the disability community and serves on
a number of councils, associations, and Boards .( The intent of
this project is to develop a standard, information filled, accurate and
appropriate training curriculum that provides all First Responders with
the knowledge necessary to best serve and respond to IWDs. However,
developing and implementing the curriculum and having it accepted and
embraced by First Responders will be a challenge. We realize that
training schedules are quite full, that budget cuts hamper areas training
opportunities, and that there are complexities involved in running
training programs; however the need for training in the area of IWDs is
critical.<br><br>
<br><br>
As we launch this initiative, we are in the process of informing a large
number of state agencies, statewide associations, commissions, councils,
service providers, parents, and individuals across the First Responder
and disability spectrum to ensure all entities are aware of the
curriculum development that is taking place. <br><br>
<br><br>
</font><div align="center"><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=2>
First Responder Disability Awareness Training<br><br>
Niagara University<br><br>
<br><br>
Content Expert Information sheet<br><br>
<br><br>
</div>
1. What is your experience with First
Responders?<br><br>
<br><br>
A. Law enforcement<br><br>
<br><br>
B. Fire fighters<br><br>
<br><br>
C. Emergency management services<br><br>
<br><br>
D. Emergency Medical Technicians<br><br>
<br><br>
E. Ambulance<br><br>
<br><br>
2. Have you experienced or been informed of
issues or matters of concern regarding First Responders. Please
elaborate. Provide specific incidences.<br><br>
<br><br>
3. What did you do to correct the
matter?<br><br>
<br><br>
4. Was it handled to your liking?<br><br>
<br><br>
5. Was there any on-going involvement from your
organization? Did you train the entity, did you start or join a
committee, on-going 1:1 dialogue, etc. <br><br>
<br><br>
6. Did it have the results you desired?<br><br>
<br><br>
7. Is it still on-going?<br><br>
<br><br>
8. Have you ever trained First Responders or do
you have material relevant to training them?<br><br>
<br><br>
9. If so, who has received this
training/curriculum?<br><br>
<br><br>
10. Is this still on-going within their department?<br><br>
<br><br>
11. How is it measured to be effective? Is there data
available?<br><br>
<br><br>
12. Has it ever been updated?<br><br>
<br><br>
13. Do you a professional relationship with any First Responder
agency, association, department, or individual?<br><br>
<br><br>
14. If so, do you think they would be a valuable contributor to
this project?<br><br>
<br><br>
15. Any thoughts or ideas you have that would make this project a
success.<br><br>
<br><br>
Thank you for your participation.<br><br>
<div align="center"> <br><br>
</font></div>
Julie Phillipson M. Ed.<br><br>
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