Title 6Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73

§321b Disability Coordinator

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V— - NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT › § 321b

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

After talking with disability groups, the National Council on Disabilities, and the Interagency Coordinating Council created under Executive Order No. 13347, the Administrator must appoint a Disability Coordinator. The Coordinator reports directly to the Administrator and must make sure the needs of people with disabilities are included in emergency planning and disaster relief for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. The Disability Coordinator has 11 duties. They must give guidance and coordinate planning and relief; work with agency staff, other federal agencies, and state, local, and tribal officials; consult disability advocacy groups; share best practices and model evacuation plans; develop training and curricula for responders and officials; promote accessible hotlines and websites; help make TV, cable, and satellite emergency information accessible for people who are deaf or blind; ensure accessible evacuation transportation; respect the post-evacuation housing choices of people with disabilities; include disability needs in the national preparedness system under section 744; and carry out other tasks the Administrator assigns.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §321b

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)After consultation with organizations representing individuals with disabilities, the National Council on Disabilities, and the Interagency Coordinating Council on Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities, established under Executive Order No. 13347, the Administrator shall appoint a Disability Coordinator. The Disability Coordinator shall report directly to the Administrator, in order to ensure that the needs of individuals with disabilities are being properly addressed in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
(b)The Disability Coordinator shall be responsible for—
(1)providing guidance and coordination on matters related to individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(2)interacting with the staff of the Agency, the National Council on Disabilities, the Interagency Coordinating Council on Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities established under Executive Order No. 13347, other agencies of the Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal government authorities regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(3)consulting with organizations that represent the interests and rights of individuals with disabilities about the needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;
(4)ensuring the coordination and dissemination of best practices and model evacuation plans for individuals with disabilities;
(5)ensuring the development of training materials and a curriculum for training of emergency response providers, State, local, and tribal government officials, and others on the needs of individuals with disabilities;
(6)promoting the accessibility of telephone hotlines and websites regarding emergency preparedness, evacuations, and disaster relief;
(7)working to ensure that video programming distributors, including broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite television services, make emergency information accessible to individuals with hearing and vision disabilities;
(8)ensuring the availability of accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities in the event of an evacuation;
(9)providing guidance and implementing policies to ensure that the rights and wishes of individuals with disabilities regarding post-evacuation residency and relocation are respected;
(10)ensuring that meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities are included in the components of the national preparedness system established under section 744 of this title; and
(11)any other duties as assigned by the Administrator.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Executive Order No. 13347, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(2), is set out as a note under section 314 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of Pub. L. 109–295 or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until Mar. 31, 2007, see section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 321b

Title 6Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73