Emergency Preparedness for Speech-Language Pathologists and AAC Users

FEMA outlines the 4 ‘R’s for Emergency Preparedness. This guideline is crucial to understand as a speech-language pathologist serving those who use augmentative and alternative communication. FEMA outlines these guidelines for environmental disasters (hurricanes, tornados, etc), but we can broaden this to include car accidents, beach accidents, and other traumatic events that include crisis. Being located on the Jersey Shore, we have experienced our fair share of hurricanes, including Hurricane Sandy, which devastated our little slice of heaven.

FEMA’S 4 R’s

FEMA's 4 R's of Emergency Preparedness (Reduce, Respond, Recover, and Mitigate) emphasize the importance of being ready for unexpected situations. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) training can be a valuable part of emergency preparedness efforts, as it ensures that individuals with communication difficulties have a means to communicate during times of crisis. With AAC training, emergency responders and individuals can effectively communicate, reducing the risk of miscommunication and increasing the speed and efficiency of response efforts. Let's prioritize AAC training as a crucial element of our emergency preparedness plans and ensure that everyone has access to the tools and support they need to stay safe and connected.

As speech-language pathologists we have a huge role in the “reduce” section of this guideline. AAC on the Beach, a organization located on the Jersey Shore, aims to provide free training to policemen, firemen, emergency medical technicians, lifeguards, and beach and pool staff.

Our comprehensive training is designed for first responders and understand the value of first responders in our community.

Resources:

·      USSAAC: https://ussaac.org/readiness/

·      Temple: https://disabilities.temple.edu/assistive-technology/emergency-communication-aac-vocabulary

·      Penn State: http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/index.php/pages/show/id/18