Disability Identification in Tennessee

 Disability ID does not aid First Responders

Allison Donald

People with disabilities are entitled to the same level of protection in an emergency as everyone else—no more, no less. The “reasonable accommodations” mandated in the ADA are intended to provide the same level of safety and utility for people with disabilities as for everyone else.  As an advocate and a person with a disability it should not be a requirement for people to carry an identification card with information about their disability on it.  

Some people in Tennessee have proposed a disability category on the state Identification Card or Driver’s License to help first responders to know how to deal with some people with disabilities. 

There is no advantage to having this, because it would not require first responders to maintain training standards in the interactions with people living with disabilities. There are already manuals that detail how first responders are to be trained when they encounter individuals who have disabilities.  

The major concern I have as an advocate stems from what will happen when an interaction does not go according to plan. Is that identification going to help the first responder with knowing the proper steps to take when they encounter a person with complex disabilities?  Is that identification going to prevent an otherwise harmless situation from escalating due to a miscommunication?  As we have seen events like these involving people with disabilities often end badly and those involved are left with more questions than answers.

Those who support the idea of identification for persons with disabilities laud the added safety it provides.  However, it also becomes a crutch to some in the disability community who may expect first responders to know what the needs of people with disabilities are simply because they have been “trained” to do so.  If you are living with a disability knowing your rights and responsibilities and having a disaster preparedness plan should be a part of your personal life plan.

“There is training as to how to approach people with disabilities under different circumstances, said Jonathan Morrison of the Memphis Fire Department, “the gap is the shortage in resources at times and the lack of knowledge about what help can be provided to people with disabilities in this city.”

The issue of identifying people with disabilities will remain polarizing because it may take away our choice of who we would like to disclose our status of disability to.  It is our job as advocates to ensure equity for our community, not special treatment.