Surprise Hosts 2nd Annual Disability/Human Services Summit

Emergency Preparedness- Come hear from Surprise Police and Fire representatives on how to be more prepared in the event of a local or national emergency. Discussion will focus on general preparation as well as the specific needs of individuals with disabilities and seniors.

Developmental Disability Panel Discussion- Experts in the areas of autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and mental retardation will provide an overview of these four disabilities and answer questions.

Assistive Technology- Assistive technology (AT) can make performing everyday life activities possible for individuals with disabilities. Come learn more about various types of assistive technology through hands-on demonstrations, how the services offered at the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP) can assist you or a family member with making informed choices about assistive technology needs and what resources may be available to assist with obtaining assistive technology.

Care for the Caregiver- Caregivers often find it difficult to make time for themselves. Come hear ways to carve out time for yourself. Taking care of yourself is critical both for you and your loved one.

Disability Friendly Customer Service- People with disabilities represent the fastest growing minority population in the world and have an estimated $175 billion in discretionary spending power. The key to tapping into this is providing effective customer service to individuals with disabilities and their families.

Various agency booths will be located in the lobby to provide valuable information. Some of these agencies include the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, Arizona Commission for the Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, APS, Interfaith Community Care, United Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, and many more.

This event is free, but registration is required and available online at http://disabilitysummit.eventbrite.com/ or by contacting the Nanette Bowles at 623-222-2266 (Voice) / 623-222-3802 (VP) or at nanette.bowles@surpriseaz.com. Registration and requests for reasonable accommodations need to be made as soon as possible. American Sign Language interpreters and Captioning will be provided.