David V. Whalen, project director of Niagara University’s First/Emergency Responder Disability Awareness Training, will be a panelist during a webinar series presented by Disability Rights NY and focused on emergency preparedness.
On Monday, May 15, Whalen will offer his insights and experiences during a panel discussion titled “When Disaster Strikes: Lessons Learned from Disability Advocates Who Experienced Weather Emergencies.” On May 17, the panelists will share ideas on “Creating Inclusive and Anti-Ableist Triage Policies.”
Whalen will also be featured during the New York State Department of Labor’s Disability Employment Summit on May 18. The event, presented in partnership with Columbia-Greene Workforce NY, will focus on building collaborative partnerships and expanding the discussion of the New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network pilot project, which seeks to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for adults with disabilities in New York state.
Whalen founded Disability Awareness Training in September 2004. The training is designed to both sensitize and educate the audience on all aspects of disabilities including, but not limited to, definitions of disabilities, etiquette and interaction skills, stigma and misperceptions, inclusion and integration, and overcoming barriers through advocacy.