NFPA's involvement

In 1999, NFPA's Center for High-Risk Outreach joined the North American Coalition for Fire and Life Safety Education to sponsor Solutions 2000, a symposium that brought together the fire safety and advocacy communities to examine fire safety challenges of young children, older adults, and people with disabilities. Download a copy of the proceedings. (PDF, 1 MB)
In 2000, a second symposium, Beyond Solutions 2000, was sponsored by the Center and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop an action plan universal to the three targeted high-risk groups. This plan addressed the need for all fire safety and advocacy agencies to take collective responsibility in the areas of egress capability, early warning, and fire sprinkler protection. Several speakers with disabilities were concerned that not enough progress had been made and there were not enough programs addressing their safety needs. Download a copy of the proceedings. (PDF, 630 KB)
In 2002, the Center sponsored Focus on Fire Safety Solutions for People with Disabilities to act on recommendations of Beyond Solutions 2000. Download the results of that meeting (PDF, 58 KB).
In 2003, the Center for High-Risk Outreach sponsored a meeting on Criteria for Evaluating Public Education Brochures. Download the results of that meeting (PDF, 48 KB).
In February 2007, the Center for High-Risk Outreach hosted the Fire Safety for People with Disabilities Task Force meeting in Long Beach, CA. The task force strategized on the development of new web-based educational materials focusing on fire-safety issues of people with disabilities. In addition, the group reviewed existing NFPA fire safety education materials to ensure that messages for people with disabilities are included, that materials are in accessible formats and that wording of materials is sensitive and accurate. The Task Force membership is represented by fire and life safety specialists, burn survivor groups, and advocacy organizations for people with disabilities.

In October of 2008, the Fire Safety for People with Disabilities Task Force met in Kansas City, MO. The task force strategized on the development of new web-based educational materials focusing on fire safety issue of people with disabilities. The group reviewed recently produced targeted educational materials addressing issues of children with disabilities and gave suggestions for new programs and educational materials for people of all ages with disabilities. The Task Force includes fire and life safety specialists, burn survivor groups, and advocacy organizations for people with disabilities.

Photos from the Kansas City, MO, meeting

Gary Olsen, former executive director and advocate, Nevada Statewide Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocacy Resource Center and Michael Collins, task force chair and executive director, National Council on Disability.		Pat Pound, (left) former executive director of the Texas Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities; Raul Castillo, executive vice president, public relations, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters; Cindy Finkle, research coordinator, Oklahoma State University Fire Protection Publications; and Christina Rogers, Strong Families Program Manager, Riley Hospital for Children.

Pat Pound (left), former executive director of the Texas Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, makes a point during the meeting.		Loretta Moore (center), an instructor of daily living skills and volunteer coordinator for the San Diego Center for the Blind, and Linda Woodbury, disabilities consultant, San Diego.

For more information, please contact Sharon Gamache, +1 617 984-7286.