Alexander Jewish Family Service is honored to announce its involvement in a new initiative, Prepared4ALL, launched by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). Prepared4ALL mobilizes disability organizations and their local networks to get a seat at the emergency planning table. Uniquely positioned with robust Disability and Disaster Services, Alexander JFS looks forward to working with local disability organizations to improve emergency preparedness.

Approximately1 in 4 Americans have a disability, yet state and local preparedness planning, mitigation and recovery efforts do not consistently include them. Focused on investing in disability organizations at the local level, Prepared4ALL emphasizes the importance of collaboration across government entities, community-based and civic organizations, and other partners to ensure that local planning for emergency, disaster and pandemic response includes everyone in the community. 

“We are excited and proud to launch this initiative right now. Prepared4ALL offers an online training, Whole Community Inclusive Emergency Planning, in addition to a Town Hall series for partners to problem-solve with local Disability Inclusion Coach support. We must work with emergency and public health planners to foster connections, build trust, create sustainable relationships,” says John Tschida, AUCD’s Executive Director.

“Our work is to help partners identify opportunities for disability inclusion in local emergency planning and show how to take action.” says Dr. Adriane Griffen, AUCD’s Senior Director of Public Health and Leadership. “Our unique Prepared4ALLevidence-based approach helps build relationships between local disability organizations and public health planners and emergency managers.”

Prepared4All addresses gaps in emergency planning by sharing insights on how to make efforts accessible for people with disabilities through three related strategies:

• ‍Prepared4ALL: Whole Community Inclusive Emergency Planning - A new, free online training on the basics of the American Emergency Management System, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and whole community planning. ‍
• Prepared4ALL Disability Inclusion Coach program to help AUCD trainees form local networks between local disability organizations in the community, local emergency management, and public health professionals. ‍
• Prepared4All Town Halls which link local chapters of disability organizations and make introductions to local public health planners and emergency managers to troubleshoot and discuss solutions.

Organizations working in the area of community emergency preparedness are encouraged to get involved with Prepared4ALL by participating in the online training and attending town hall meetings. To participate, please complete the following interest form and register for townhall meetings. Please contact the Prepared4ALL staff directly at prepared4all@aucd.org with any questions.

AUCD is a national, nonprofit network of university-based centers and programs in every state and territory working to advance policy and practice for people living with disabilities and their families. AUCD’s National Center on Disability in Public Health works with partners to address health disparities like emergency preparedness. Prepared4ALL is made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Learn more about Prepared4ALL at https://nationalcenterdph.org/our-focus-areas/prepared4all/