When disaster strikes, people with disabilities face greater risk of serious injury - even death.

Lawrence, KS - infoZine- Researchers at the Life Span Institute at the University of Kansas have taken this lesson from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina to create a two-hour online training course on how to assist people with disabilities during a community emergency.

Targeting staff in county health departments and hospitals, emergency managers, disaster relief teams and professionals working with people with disabilities, "Ready, Willing and Able" was developed by institute's Research and Training Center on Independent Living. The course addresses the needs of people with sight, mobility, hearing and cognitive disabilities and covers disability etiquette, terminology, communications and assistance techniques during disasters.

According to Cathy Rooney, project coordinator, the course is unique not only because of its subject matter but also its perspective.

"The course developer, Becca Goodin Gagliano, drew upon the real-life experiences of persons with disabilities who have survived a disaster and the insights of health and safety experts," Rooney said.

The class has been approved by the Kansas State Nurses Association for two hours of continuing education credit for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.

"Ready, Willing and Able" was created in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Center for Public Health Preparedness and the Health Resources and Services Administration. It is available free of charge through TRAIN, an online training system for public health and safety workers. To register, go to ks.train.org (for workers in Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area) or www.train.org (for those in other states). The course number is 1010882.

The Research and Training Center on Independent Living is one of 12 centers affiliated with the Life Span Institute, one of the largest research and development programs in the nation for the prevention and treatment of developmental disabilities. More than 120 programs and projects are located on KU's Lawrence and medical center campuses, in Kansas City, Kan., and Parsons.