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Emergency alerts are supposed to reach everyone - but they don’t. In this episode, Tim Conrad speaks with Jen McEachen, a deafblind emergency management professional who has spent years identifying the gaps that leave millions of people behind during disasters. 

Jen shares what daily navigation looks like with deafblindness, why current public notification systems fail, and how simple changes - from ASL integration to accessible document formats - can dramatically improve safety for all communities. 

Together, they explore preparedness guides, evacuation challenges, nonprofit collaboration, and the intersection of disability with Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ needs. This conversation is a candid look at the barriers people with disabilities face in emergencies, and the practical steps local governments, First Nations, and crisis communicators can take to ensure nobody is left behind.

Resources:

Accessible Standards Canada - Federal Standards of Emergency Measures:

https://accessible.canada.ca/standards-and-technical-guides/standards-and-technical-guides-database/can-asc-64-emergency-measures

Federal Standards of Emergency Egress:

https://accessible.canada.ca/standards-and-technical-guides/standards-and-technical-guides-database/overview-can-asc-22-emergency-egress-exit

Accessible Canada Act:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/accessible-canada/act-summary.html

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