Emergency personnel are expected to plan for things no one has ever considered. They do a remarkable job in trying to account for the needs of the whole community and presently, more attention than ever is being paid to emergency response related to people with disabilities and the elderly. There continues to be a national push to improve disaster response for all people and the sites below will help anyone involved in emergency planning. Government agencies, office managers and neighborhood planners can learn about many simple and highly effective ways to include all people in disaster response plans, and greatly reduce the impact on all people.

Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers
This site contains information about assisting people with disabilities in a disaster and how to plan for a disaster if you have a disability.

Tips For First Responders
This guide contains quick, easy-to-read information for first responders and other emergency personnel on how to assist seniors and persons with a wide range of disabilities during an emergency.

Emergency Preparedness Initiative
Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI) is a program of the National Organization on Disability (NOD). The EPI offers information about many topics on disaster readiness. EPI was started ensure that emergency managers address disability concerns and that people with disabilities are included in all levels of emergency preparedness- planning, response, and recovery.

National Center on Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities
The National Center on Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities has resources to help managers, planners, and responders ensure that everyone in the community is considered when creating an emergency plan.

Center on Accessible Society
The Center on Accessible Society has several articles related to the effects of disasters on people with disabilities. Included in this article are seven principles to consider in disaster relief planning. There is information on how to ensure the inclusion of all people in local emergency response plans.

Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services of California provides this comprehensive article. It is a report on what California is doing to address disaster response issues for people with disabilities. While this information is specific to California, the findings can be applied to any state.

Disability Law Resource Project
The Disability Law Resource Project has put together a listing of FAQ's to help law enforcement agencies comply with the ADA. The information is useful for both police officers as well as people with disabilities. The examples given help to increase an understanding of the common problems that occur and how the actions of people with disabilities are sometimes misconstrued by police officers.