Disability Integration & Accessibility in EMERGENCY Management

Karla Huertas Dones

787-***-**** ***********@*******.***

Department: Office of Disability Integration and Coordination Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency/DHS

Job Title: Emergency Management Specialist

Citizenship: United States

Military Status: N/A

Veteran’s Preference: No

Job Preference: Full Time

Education:

06/2017 Master’s Degree in Conflict Mediation and Dispute Resolution University of the Sacred Heart San Juan, Puerto Rico

06/2007 Bachelor's Degree in Social Science University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, Puerto Rico Work History:

Disability Integration Advisor DIAD December 21, 2017 - Present Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Salary: 43.72 per hour 40 plus hours per week

Support the mission at the Branch, Area Field Office at Joint Recovery Office by providing guidance regarding physical, programmatic, and effective communication access in all phases of emergency response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness.

Provide technical assistance, subject matter expertise and referrals about inclusivity during the planning stage of projects for Natural and Cultural Resources (Recovery Support Function

(RSF)/Interagency Recovery Coordination (IRC)), Community Planning Capacity Building

(RSF/IRC), Community Planning/MASS Care (IRC), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Municipalities sector under the disability regulations and policies; such as the Disability Act of 1990 or the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Support recovery RSF Leads in the development of strategies and courses of action consistent with inclusiveness principles.

Work with EA for the translation on ROI forms to Haitian creole and Vietnamese and Disaster Assistance translation in multiple languages.

Advise RSF Leads in the JRO around the whole community components of IRC’s long-term recovery planning.

Facilitate essential information between RSFs.

Research best practices and feasibility to replicate during Puerto Rico Recovery.

Advice about inclusivity and accessibility to develop the Core Advisory Groups across the island.

Participate as part of a team on facility site assessment for Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs), Roving Disaster Recovery Centers (RDRC), Mobile Disaster Recovery Center (MDRC) within 48 hours of a validated State's request.

Review facilities for physical accessibility by identifying barriers and make appropriate recommendations to modify the facility to ensure access to people with disabilities in Multi Lease and Repair Program, Direct Lease Program for Direct Housing mission.

Provide advice to Branch, Security, Deputy Ops Branch Director, and Emergency Services Group Supervisor about service animals in public places and DRC’s.

Support Disaster Recovery Centers for unmet needs; check the status of Disaster Recovery Center Communication & Accessibility Kit; provide trainings on the use of the equipment and follow up on modifications recommended by Disability Integration during site inspections.

Collaborate and provide technical expertise on how to be inclusive of the whole community by ensuring equal physical access, equal effective communication access, and equal programmatic access to External Affairs and Community Relations, Individual Assistance, and Disaster Survivor Assistance.

Assist with the recovery alongside the Voluntary Agency Liaison identifying the communities with disability, those with access and functional needs and the need for Durable Medical Equipment.

Provide guidance for State and local governmental agencies to assist in ensuring people with disabilities and/or other access and functional needs have equal access to programs, services, information, and physical accessibility.

Collaborate with Civil Rights, Support Services Branch, or designee, provide guidance and technical assistance to Individual Assistance, Information Technology and Logistics staff in establishing accessibility at Disaster Recovery Center locations.

Advise Support Services Branch and Equal Rights Advisors in the identification and evaluation of disability laws and regulations as they relate to mobility compliance in the various field locations.

Identify local community resources for people with disabilities and partners to refer them to Long Term Recovery Groups.

Navigate and search Grants Manager Platform to conduct special project regarding accessibility standards and code.

Detect the needs of survivors that Disability Integration and Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) have been assigned to and execute prescribed assignment independently.

Refer community resources to survivors with disabilities in Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) to enable them to implement a long-term housing plan.

Collaborate in the development of the Equity Task force.

Work in collaboration with Mass Care Group Congregate shelter mission.

Locate, review, Personally Identifiable Information on the National Emergency Management Information System Program.

Provided the Disability Etiquette and proper use of Communication & Accessibility Kit training for FEMA DRC staff and AmeriCorps staff.

Understand the process and purpose of protection of Personal Identifiable Information. Case Manager November 2017-December 2017

Social and Community Concepts, Inc for Save The Children 10 hours per week Salary: 12.00 per hour

Created a safe space for children to play and learn in state shelters.

Developed daily activity plans for children ranging from pre-k to 9th grade with multiple disabilities and learning abilities.

Provided emotional support for children when needed.

Conducted presentations for children’s emotional wellness.

Supported coworkers on the daily activity when requested. Case Manager December 2016 – March 2017

Vighter Medical Group, LLC for Office of Refugee Resettlement 48 hours per week Salary: 20.00 per hour

Conducted interviews to unaccompanied children, qualified sponsors or family members. Most of the children were from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The children entered the United States along the southwest borders.

Place the children with qualified sponsors and family members while they await their immigration proceedings.

Inputtted accurate information into computer programs after collecting relevant data from children, qualified sponsors, and family members.

Conducted the discharge of unaccompanied children. Contacted qualified sponsors with family members; coordinated arriving date, and family reunification.

Completed family reunification plans which required coordination of services as medical care, educational programs, counseling, recreation, case management, and reunification services.

Drafted/edited consent agreements in accordance to each family reunification plan and obtained the signature of the qualified sponsors or family members.

Completed safety plans and present recommendations. Case Manager September 2013 – October 2016

Salud Aseguradora por Nuestra Organizacion Solidaria (SANOS) Corporation 40 hours per week Ave. Rafael Cordero, Esquina Troche Caguas, PR 00726 Salary: 10.00 per hour

Conducted first intake interviews to adolescents in substance abuse and psychological treatment.

Presented workshops for prevention of abuse of controlled substances in schools and government agencies.

Conducted follow-up interviews every 90 days with the purpose of knowing the status of patients and re-engaging them into treatment.

Completed discharge interviews to adolescents in substance abuse treatment.

Updated the project agenda, appointment schedule and follow up call for each psychologist, psychological counselor and the adolescent.

Educational Counselor January 2012 – September 2013 Braxton Corporation, K-2 Ave. San Patricio, Guaynabo PR 00968 12 hour per week Salary: 12.00 per hour

Participated in conferences as a speaker to students from K-12 and students with disability.

Developed group workshops.

Offered tutoring to children from K to 12 including children with disabilities.

Drafted a monthly report and weekly accomplishments report.

Organized the weekly schedule and projections.

Cashier September 2012- August 2013

Sunny Planet, Ave Aeropuerto S/N, Carolina, PR 00937 10 hours per week Salary: 7.50 per hour

Merchandise distribution within stores.

Maintained clean and orderly checkout areas.

Greeted customers entering establishment.

Resolved customer complaints.

Answered customer questions and provide information on procedures or policies.

Calculated total payments received during a period and reconciled it with the total sales.

Computed and recorded totals of transactions.

Customer Service Representative October 2010 – March 2011 Rooms to Go, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico 39 hours per week Salary: 10.00 per hour

Coordinated with customer the merchandise delivery and technical services visits.

Answered customer’s telephone calls, provided orientation, and follow up regarding merchandise deliveries.

Responded to questions and concerns from customers about services and manage calls appropriately.

Family Services Technician I August 2007 – October 2010 Puerto Rico Department of Family Affairs, San Juan, Puerto Rico 40 plus hour a week Salary: 11.00 per hour

Worked as a case manager conducting face to face interviews.

Researched case information.

Interviewed collaterals and any other person related to each case.

Conducted evaluations and provided recommendations in accordance with child protective laws to each case.

Applied child protection laws and other relevant state laws to orient, protect and offer services.

Prepared case files for court and testified when summoned. Job Related Skills and Accomplishments:

Knowledge of the Disability Act of 1990 or the Rehabilitation Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Ongoing support and communication within Community Planning /IRS MASS Care and Puerto Rico Core Advisory Groups for an effective and promptly emergency response base on the community resources and organization.

Integrated Disability Integration Advisor with the Natural and Cultural Resources and the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to advise on Whole Community, Accessibility, and Universal designs.

Knowledge of Job, Rules, Regulations and Policies.

Understand duties and responsibilities and apply skills in conformance with applicable guidance.

Produce useful volume of work, meet deadlines, organize and prioritize work.

Quality of Work is accurate, complete, get the job done efficiently and in compliance with procedures.

Assume responsibility, complete assignments with minimal supervision.

Good communication skills resulting in getting ideas across clearly, concisely, and effectively both orally and in writing.

Cooperate by working well with others to achieve a common goal.

Excellent communication skills in both oral and written forms in Spanish and English.

Outstanding experience providing customer services in various work settings.

Maintain good professional relationship with employees and cross sectors.

Ability to analyze all data and provide required solutions.

Interpret laws and regulations.

Good interpersonal skills such as responsibility, teamwork and working under pressure.

Professional judgment.

Job Related Training and Certificates:

ICS 300- Incident Command System

NFC 006 DBTAC ADA Building Blocks

603 FEMA Incident Workforce Academy (FIWA - Tier III) for First-Line Supervisors

IS-100.b - Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100)

IS-20.18: Diversity Awareness Course 2018

IS-546.a - Continuity of Operations (COOP) Awareness

IS-700.a - National Incident Management System (NIMS) - An Introduction

Operations Security (OPSEC) Fundamentals

Preventing Workplace Harassment

Privacy at DHS: Protecting Personal Information

IS-00368

Including People With Disabilities & Others With Access & Functional Needs in Disaster Operations

Additional Trainings:

20 courses in Emergency Management via internet

GAIN Administrator

Local Trainer for GAIN Administration

Protective Intervention Techniques

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