New American Sign Language videos will help deaf, hard of hearing
prepare for disasters
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[March 17, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD -- Information about how to
prepare for emergencies is now more accessible for people who are
deaf and hard of hearing. This week the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency and the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Commission announced a new video series that explains disaster
preparedness measures in American Sign Language and is fully
captioned.
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The 11-segment video
series covers such topics as how to make a household emergency plan,
building an emergency supply kit, planning for evacuations and
sheltering in place, and emergency planning for people with
disabilities and functional needs. The videos are based on an
emergency planning brochure developed by the Illinois Terrorism Task
Force.
"We want to make emergency preparedness information available to
all Illinois citizens," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken. "Our
Ready Illinois website is a one-stop shop for preparedness
information that can be translated into six languages and increased
in font size to aid the vision-impaired. Now we can also offer
crucial emergency preparedness information to the deaf and hard of
hearing."
Monken said the Terrorism Task Force hopes to partner with the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission to develop additional videos on
other preparedness topics.
It is vital for the deaf and hard of hearing communities whose
native language is ASL to have equal access to emergency
preparedness information. ASL is a natural, visual, non-spoken
language used extensively within and among the deaf community. Many
people do not realize that ASL is separate and distinct from the
English language.
"These videos not only provide valuable information about how
each family should prepare, but also encourage people to get
involved in their own communities," said John Miller, director of
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission. He presents the video
series in ASL.
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"Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are part of each and every
community," he said. "Together we prepare, and together we can help
to make a difference."
Miller noted that the videos do not contain state-specific
content, so the commission will encourage other states to use the
videos to inform deaf and hard of hearing populations about
emergency preparedness.
The video series was produced by the University of Illinois at
Springfield. The Illinois Terrorism Task Force provided nearly
$1,000 for production costs.
The videos can be accessed at
www.ready.illinois.gov and
www.idhhc.illinois.gov.
[Text from
Illinois
Emergency Management Agency file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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