The City of Carmel unveiled two initiatives at the March 4 city council meeting to provide support for people with disabilities.
The Specific Response Registry allows residents to voluntarily fill out a form that lets first responders know that someone in the home may have trouble leaving quickly in case of an emergency or that may require a specific response from emergency personnel.
The information is shared with the Carmel police and fire departments and the Hamilton County emergency dispatch center and will alert responders about the special conditions when they are sent to the scene.
“The more information we have prior to arriving on scene is helpful,” Carmel Fire Dept. Chief David Haboush said. “We believe this tool will allow all first responders in the City of Carmel an opportunity to produce better outcomes for all of our residents.”
City council member Laura Campbell, who has a daughter with epilepsy and cognitive disabilities, said she approached city leaders about launching the registry last fall and that they were immediately supportive of the idea.
To learn more about the registry, visit carmel.in.gov/department-services/fire/forms-and-applicationsand click on the links to Specific Response Registry.
Campbell also announced the formation of the Carmel Advisory Committee on Disability, which she will co-chair with David Littlejohn, the city’s alternative transportation coordinator. She expects the committee to have approximately 12 members.
The committee will focus on improving accessibility throughout Carmel, encouraging employers to hire people with disabilities and create and promote social connections through events.
With March being Indiana Disability Awareness Month, the second Saturday Meet Me on Main event scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. March 9 will feature artwork from Carmel High School students in the Life Skills class.
A make-and-take art project will be offered at 110 W. Main St. Suite 125, and 2019 Miss Indiana Teen USA Catie Combellick will be on site to promote her platform, #EveryoneAlways, which focuses on autism awareness. The campaign is inspired by Combellick’s nephew, who has autism, and encourages middle and high school students to practice simple acts of kindness.
