[WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: [Pwd] Open Forum on the Role of ICT for Disaster Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities, 15:00-17:00 22 September, Palais des Nations Room XXII with English-French SI

[John Burke]

Dear Hiroshi,

Thank you very much for this information, I wish I could be there myself.  We have greatly increased our efforts to help prepare people with disabilities for natural disasters.  We are working with multiple agencies and to try to get people to see the great need and perhaps more important to have them make changes.

Thank you for your efforts, you and the others are doing such great work.

Sincerely,

John Burke

>>> "Hiroshi Kawamura" <hiroshikawamura at attglobal.net> 09/22/05 2:13 AM >>>
Open Forum on the Role of ICT for Disaster Preparedness of Persons with 
Disabilities, 15:00-17:00 22 September, Palais des Nations Room XXII with 
English-French SI

Hosted by the WSIS Disability Caucus

  The recent South Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and other natural 
disasters have brought world-wide awareness to the effects of major 
disasters upon all segments of society. Vulnerable populations such as 
persons with disabilities, children, or the elderly are at particular risk 
in a disaster.
  It is vital to consider their special needs in the design of disaster 
preparedness and warning systems.  Additionally, tourists, recent 
immigrants, and refugees face challenges when confronted with disasters in 
unfamiliar locations, linguistically isolated, and in need of assimilating 
lifesaving information and guidance quickly when under stress.
  Attention to the requirements for persons with disabilities may also 
benefit the greater general population which can find itself situationally 
disabled.
  Information and Communications Technology (ICT) based upon accessible 
design principles is one of the key parts of the solution.


Moderator: Hiroshi Kawamura, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with 
Disabilities Research Institute

Agenda:

1.     Presentation: Preparedness and Warning Systems for Populations with 
Special Needs: Ensuring everyone gets the message (and knows what to do)  By 
Helen T. Sullivan, Markku T. Hakkinen, and Hiroshi Kawamura (DAISY 
Presentation)

2.     Presentation: ITU initiatives on disaster prevention with reference 
to standard development activities.  By Houlin Zhao, ITU Sector-T

3.     Open discussion on current situation of persons with disabilities in 
disaster incidents including Tsunami/earthquake,
hurricanes/typhoons/cyclones, etc. from disability perspective, and 
suggestions for human centered approach of disaster prevention/preparedness 
for all


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