In February 2009 ANSI-HSSP, in collaboration with the National Organization on Disability (NOD) Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI) and the NFPA Disability Access Review and Advisory Committee (DARAC), held a workshop to examine existing and needed standards for emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities and special needs in both the built environment as well as for evacuation operations. The final workshop report issued in May 2009 is available now available for public review. [see related news item]
ANSI-HSSP is now launching a Phase II series of three separate issue-driven workshops related to this topic.
On May 24, 2010, ANSI-HSSP will hold a workshop on Accessibility Codes and Standards. Chaired by Dominic Sims, chief operating officer of the International Code Council (ICC), the workshop address the need for new or revised building accessibility standards. An active, roundtable discussion format will engage executives, technical experts, federal agencies, standards developers, those impacted by the built environment, and other relevant stakeholders on codes and standards that address accessibility issues to the fullest extent possible.
This workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with registration opening at 8:00 a.m., at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA. To view the draft agenda, click here. To register, click here.
The second workshop will be held on the following day, May 25, 2010, to address Standards for Products and Assistive Devices. Led by workshop co-chairs Chris Dubay, vice president and chief engineer of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and ANSI-HSSP co-chair, and Gordon Gillerman, chief of the standards services division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), attendees will discuss the need for new or revised standards and third-party certification programs to assure that assistive products or devices have been designed, built, and tested with respect to important criteria such as maintainability, durability, general safety and comfort, and more.
This workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., with registration opening at 8:00 a.m., at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA. To view the draft agenda, click here. To register, click here.
A third workshop on emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities will take place on June 17, 2010. This event will cover emergency evacuation operations and will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana. An agenda and more information about this workshop will be made available shortly. In the interim, interested stakeholders may visit the event page.
Questions on these workshops can be directed to Jessica Carl ([email protected], 212.642.4903).
ANSI-HSSP sponsorship opportunities are now available to demonstrate your support and publicize your organization's commitment to homeland security standards efforts through promotional materials, signage, banner ads, and more. Click here for more information.