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March 21, 2023Advocacy Matters

REAADI Act Re-Introduction in Congress

REAADI Act Re-Introduction in Congress

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender

March 21, 2023 

#AdvocacyMatters Segment

REAADI Act Re-Introduction in Congress

Congress is getting ready to reintroduce the REAADI for Disasters Act next week. REAADI stands for Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion for Disasters Act. The main sponsor of the bill is Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey. Senator Casey is looking for community help and support for this important legislation.

In brief, the act would:

Ensure there is a strong disability and older adult voice throughout the preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation of disasters.

Include universal design and visitability standards, as well as reasonable modifications, during and after disasters.

Create a grant program to pilot strategies for the greater inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs.

Require the U.S. Department of Justice to examine how the civil rights of people with disabilities and older adults are or are not upheld during disasters.

Establish a role for Centers for Independent Living throughout local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

#AdvocacyMatters

Senator Casey is looking for advocates who will reach out to their legislators and ask them to cosponsor this important legislation. There is also a petition you can sign to show your support for the bill.

Go to disabilityrightspa.org and click on today’ #AdvocacyMatters segment to learn more about the bill and to find a link to reaadi.com. Reaadi.com will have a petition to sign to show support as well as a link to send a message to your members of congress.

 

Links

REAADI for Disasters Act Website

https://reaadi.com/

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Fact Sheet on REAADI Act

https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/REAADI%20One-pager%20117th.pdf