World Institute on Disability and American Red Cross Partner to Provide Innovati

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World Institute on Disability and American Red Cross Partner to

Provide Innovative Training to Better Assist Those With Disabilities

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYW0251010200

7-1.htm

Specialized Training Program Funded Through $300,000 Grant From the

Verizon Foundation

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Institute on

Disability and the American Red Cross announced Wednesday (Oct. 10)

the creation of an innovative national training, awareness and

action program to help Red Cross staff and volunteers better serve

people with disabilities during disasters.

The program will be funded through a $300,000 grant from the Verizon

Foundation.

" The American Red Cross is committed to providing the best service

possible by constantly learning and building on its over 100 years

of providing disaster relief, " said Harold , chief executive

officer of the organization's Bay Area Chapter.

" The American Red Cross trains staff and volunteers to respond to

almost 75,000 disasters annually. This grant from Verizon is much

appreciated and will help people with disabilities through this

collaboration with the World Institute on Disability, " said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross saw a

need to improve outreach and response to vulnerable populations,

such as people with disabilities, the elderly, children and low-

income communities.

The World Institute on Disability (WID) and the American Red Cross

will set up a pilot program in one of 10 targeted locations across

the country that could be affected by a high-risk disaster such as

an earthquake or forest fire. The pilot location has not yet been

selected, but among the locations selected for the training are

Chicago, Houston, New Orleans and New York.

Goals of the program include:

* Improved emergency preparedness and disaster response by Red

Cross staff

and volunteers for people with disabilities.

* Increased collaboration between the American Red Cross and

local

community-based disability organizations and resources.

* Increased understanding of the special needs of those with

disabilities

in disaster situations.

Once the pilot program is complete, the American Red Cross will

expand the training to all 10 locations to teach 200-300 staff

members and volunteers how to better serve people with disabilities

in emergency preparedness and disaster response. The WID also will

develop disability resource directories for each location, including

information on local community-based disability organizations.

" Through this generous Verizon grant, the WID and the Red Cross will

have an opportunity to create new approaches to disaster

preparedness that will result in creative ideas to improve

responsiveness for each and everyone of us, " said Kathy ez,

executive director, World Institute on Disability.

Verizon Foundation President Gaston said, " The upheaval and

trauma caused by a disaster take a tremendous physical and emotional

toll on everyone involved. Increasing accessibility for those with

disabilities is a key issue for the foundation, and Verizon is proud

to partner with the WID and the American Red Cross to play a role in

providing better service and response to those affected. "

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon

Communications, is committed to improving literacy and K-12

education through its signature program Thinkfinity.org; fostering

awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use

of technology in health-care delivery. In 2006, the foundation

awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the

United States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitable

donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29

million in combined contributions. Under the foundation's Verizon

Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer

programs, company employees and retirees have also contributed

nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's

inception in 2000.

For more information on the foundation, visit

www.verizon.com/foundation.

About the World Institute for Disability (WID)

WID's mission is to advance the human and civil rights of people

with disabilities through research, training, advocacy and public

education. With an emphasis on social and economic equity, WID has

worked to increase opportunities for people with disabilities to

live as productive and contributing members of society.

WID's programs address a variety of issues that directly affect

people's ability to live full and independent lives. Currently three

major projects work in support of employment - a cornerstone of

independent living - as it is closely tied to individuals' ability

to be economically self-sufficient, empowered and autonomous. They

are: Project Vision, Access to Assets, and Disability Benefits 101

information services. Complementary WID initiatives work to increase

access to education, assistive technology, healthcare and

transportation.

Founded in 1983 by leaders of the disability movement, WID is a 501

© (3) organization based in Oakland, California. A majority of

WID's staff and board of directors are people with disabilities,

allowing the organization to maintain a grassroots focus informed by

a diverse disability perspective.