According to the latest US Census about 40% of the Leisure World Community have one or more disability. People with disabilities are two to four times more likely to be injured or killed in a natural disaster. The keys to effective disaster preparedness—be informed, make a plan and take action—apply to all of us, but people with access and functional needs or disabilities, should approach preparedness planning with additional considerations.

Roxann Crawford was the featured speaker at the next Leisure World Emergency Information Council (EIC) speaker’s event to be held March 18 in clubhouse 3 Room 2 at 1:30pm.

Roxann serves as the Disability Integration Specialist for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 9. She has been in the role since 2016. Before working in the region, Roxann was the Disability Integration Advisor on the National Incident Management Assistance Team – West, one of three elite national first response teams. As the regional subject matter expert, Roxann works with internal federal partners and external partners to bolster equality in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

Roxann partners with all federal program areas to educate and foster a whole community response that is fully inclusive of the needs of people with disabilities and provides direct programmatic and process review to create more inclusive and fully accessible options during disaster response and recovery, identifying barriers, and finding solutions. In her talk she often uses stories to help us understand the challenges faced by those with disabilities that might not be apparent.

Roxann joined FEMA 20 years ago when she volunteered to leave her job as a Chicago Firefighter & EMT to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Over that time her own family experience with persons with disability challenges brought her to FEMA’s Office of Disability Integration and her post in Sacramento.

Roxanne’s presentation is provided here:

Seal Beach Presentation