On September 20, 2004 the first meeting of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities took place at the Department of Homeland Security. Senior government officials from various departments of the federal government shared reports highlighting policy initiatives that will serve to integrate persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness planning. President George W. Bush by an Executive Order created The Council on July 22, 2004. The Council's purpose is to develop policies designed to address the safety and security needs of people with disabilities. The agency initiatives announced are:

• The Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, announced the release of a new technical assistance document, "Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities." The document provides assistance to local officials in making emergency preparedness plans consistent with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  
  
• The Federal Communications Commission has issued new policies to ensure that facilities that provide Telecommunications Relay Services for persons with hearing and speech disabilities are designated priority for restoration of service in cases of emergency.
  
  
• The Office for Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, announced that the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has committed close to $1 million to emergency preparedness research and the Rehabilitative Services Administration has awarded $1 million to the National Organization on Disability's Emergency Preparedness Initiative to assist communities, governments, and federal agencies in developing plans that will ensure the safety and security of people with disabilities in emergencies.
  
  
• The U.S. Department of Labor announced the release of a report involving employees with disabilities in emergency management planning. The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is distributing the report to state emergency coordinators as well as public and private sector employers nationwide. In addition, ODEP is making available technical assistance on emergency planning for employees with disabilities and their employers through its Job Accommodation Network.
  
  
• The Department of Homeland Security's Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties discussed the citizen preparedness web site, ready.gov. The website includes new and updated information to help people with disabilities prepare for and respond to emergencies of all kinds. The Council's work will lead to the inclusion of more comprehensive guidance for people with disabilities.
  
  
• Citizen Corps will establish a National Citizen Corps Council subcommittee on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. This subcommittee will be a key component of the federal government's efforts to reach out to communities across the country on these issues. The subcommittee will be comprised of many leading advocates from the disability community, and will hold its first meeting in October.