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Main Page | Accessibility Toolkit | Emergency smartphone apps for people with a disability

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Contributor Info

Reference Groups	Accessibility

The Accessibility Reference Group will be managing the development of content for this section and will be a point of contact for questions or help.

Introduction

This section is part of the Emergency 2.0 Wiki Accessibility Toolkit developed to empower people with a disability to use social media for disaster preparedness, response and recovery. This toolkit was developed in response to the fact that not all people with a disability are able to access life saving messages delivered through social media due to the accessibility challenges that the tools currently pose.

These apps are provided to help people with a disability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. As more apps are developed we will add them. If you know of other apps, please add them here.

Please note that social media should be used in addition to SMS messages, radio, TV, internet, newspapers and online for emergency information.

Deaf and hearing impaired

Engage App for iPhone, Android and Blackberry (US only)

This free app by E-View provides emergency warning alerts for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community anywhere in the US. If you are in the path of a disaster, your phone will light up and start flashing and vibrating with emergency warnings. Information is provided by the National Weather Service. This app is more than an emergency app, Engage is a wireless community for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, enabling users to connect with each other and local events. It features content for the Deaf; in order to engage the Deaf. [2]

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Autism Help App for iPhone

This free app by the Autism Society of Minnesota assists individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other disabilities to communicate and regulate in emergency situations. Using the book: The Incredible 5-Point Scale TM by authors Kari Dunn Buron and Mitzi Curtis, AAPC Publishing, this app helps individuals act, react and interact quickly in emergency situations. With a touch of a screen information is provided and can help facilitate interactions for a “safe” outcome for both the individual and 1st responder. [3]