Goodman and West-Olantunji's article "Applying Critical Competence Consciousness: Culturally Competent Disaster Response Outcomes," (2009), states the lack of cultural competence training for disaster preparedness staff. One solution that these authors suggest is to train students (as an example) for "Critical Consciousness." This concept involves students working collaboratively with individuals and leaders in their communities to increase their awareness of their own personal biases and understanding of the complex issues at hand, which therefore can lead to empowerment and social justice for these groups. However, the article did not include disability sensitivity training as a component of cultural competence when working with persons with disabilities in their communities.
What can be done on the state and local levels to promote disability sensitivity training for students in graduate counseling programs and for those currently practicing as counselors?
In Massachusetts, as an example, there are various advocacy groups and service providers working collaboratively together to promote disability sensitivity for emergency responders in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Here are a few resources:
1) Involvement with Committee Work:
Interested students/counselors can contact their local Independent Living Centers to find out how to get involved with the city and/or town committees on Emergency Preparedness. Serving on a local or state committee will increase your awareness on how difficult it can be to service all individuals' needs due to budget and fiscal constraints. Both Boston Center for Independent Living and Metrowest Independent Living Centers have taken leadership roles in being very vocal in promoting equal access for persons with disabilities.
2) Report:
On the state level, a report published in September 2008 entitled, "Recommendations from the Massachusetts Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and People Requiring Additional Assistance" concluded that the Commonwealth needed to remove barriers that prevent all individuals from accessing emergency products and services (p.iii) on the local and state levels. This report provides a complete list of recommendations to remove specific barriers in several areas in helping individuals requiring additional assistance during an emergency. This report can be accessed at http://www.dpcma.org/. The Disability Policy Consortium is an organization of volunteer advocates dedicated to lobbying for legislation on the state level that benefit persons with disabilities across the Commonwealth. DPC is very active and vocal in promoting the civil rights for persons with disabilities.
3) Public Hearing for Olmstead Initiatives
For those interested in learning more about the Commonwealth's plan to promote community base alternatives as opposed to living nursing homes for persons with disabilities, there will be three hearings in October across the state for people to attend:
October 23: Holyoke Community College 1 - 4 PM
October 28: Worcester Public Library 1 - 4 PM
October 30: Gardner Auditorium, State House 1 - 4 PM
4) Attendance at Grassroots advocacy meetings:
REDD, Rights, Equality for the Dignity of the Disabled, is an informal group of volunteers with/out disabilities who meet once a month on Saturdays in Worcester from September-June. Since its inception in 1996, REDD has accomplished major projects such as the extension of the platform at Union Station for persons with disabilities to board the trains with their families and friends and getting accessible taxicab service in Worcester that is available 24/7 in 2005. The latter took ten years to implement due to politics with City Hall. For more information, please contact the author of this blog. REDD's two major priorities are Transportation and Emergency Preparedness.
Resources:
Goodman, R.D, and West-Olatunji, C.A. (2009). Applying critical consciousness:Culturally competent disaster response outcomes. Journal of Counseling and Development, 87, 458-465.
http://www.worcesteractivist.org/.
Robbin Miller, LMHC Facilitator
