Regional Census and Survey of Persons with Disabilities

The Regional Census and Survey of Persons with Disabilities is the result of the commitment of the members of the Florida Department of Health Task Force for Persons With Disabilities and Preparedness. For several years, members envisioned the project and took action to make it a reality.

The 9/11 tragedy, continued terrorism threats, and the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes caused human service providers to assess emergency preparedness of Floridians with disabilities. The Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: Report of the 2006 Regional Census and Survey Persons with Disabilities summarizes the findings of an initiative of the Florida Department of Health and the Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities and Preparedness to gather information on the issues faced by people with disabilities during catastrophic events, and to serve as a basis for future disaster and emergency planning. A census and survey was administered to 2,404 people with disabilities selected from counties in the following Local Health Councils:

• Broward Regional Health Planning Council (Broward)

• Health Council of South Florida (Miami-Dade and Monroe);

• Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida (Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Sarasota);

• Treasure Coast Health Council (Okeechobee, Palm Beach); and

Findings were organized to address the five purposes of the survey

1. How did people with disabilities access health care services?

2. What potential solutions and accommodations exist to improve access to health care?

3. What were the issues involving communication and mobility?

4. What were the issues involving personal preparedness? and

5. Were individuals identified to participate in future disaster exercises?