AFN-TIPS

Emergencies happen. When there is an emergency or disaster anyone may need help. The helper might be a first responder, a volunteer or a neighbor. Unfortunately sometimes people who need help the most can provide additional challenges to first responders and others who want to help them. When someone is there to help but doesn’t know how this can be a very frustrating and potentially dangerous problem. Problems communicating or knowing how to help can limit what a responder can do.

Access and Functional Needs Tips for First Responders, AFN-Tips is designed to minimize or eliminate these additional challenges that can occur when an emergency responder or a good Samaritan doesn’t know how to work with an individual with additional needs. By providing a rich resource of instructional information, helpful resources, and commonly used acronyms, AFN-Tips helps first responders and volunteers work with individuals with a disability and those with access and functional needs. AFN-Tips shares specific information and strategies for first responders or others on how to improve communication with individuals who may need their help.

AFN-Tips provides detailed information on: Autism, Blindness or visual impairments, Chemical sensitivities, Childbearing and newborns, Cognitive disabilities, Deaf or hard of hearing, People with seizure disorders, Mental illness, Mobility impairments-Seniors, and Service animals.

AFN-Tips provides listings of Hawaii community agencies that may provide valuable services to help individuals with disabilities; listings of other community agencies that can provide information within the community, and a link to a search tool for additional local, state and national resources.
AFN-Tips provides extensive listings of commonly used disability and emergency management acronyms to further aid in communication.