VMC®/Homeland Security Programs at West Virginia University hosted a series of workshops across West Virginia to facilitate conversations about planning for bio-terrorism response or similar emergencies that will improve assisting people with all types of disabilities and special needs, including geriatric and pediatric populations. We wanted to find out what emergency plans were already in place in West Virginia that address this population, what is still needed and what steps should be taken in order for better plans to exist. These workshops were intended to be an open forum where regional stakeholders from the disabilities community and emergency planning sector could discuss these issues. A training strategy for future VMC® online courses and hands on exercises was the intended outcome of the workshops.

Workshops were held on the following dates:

September 7, 2005 – Embassy Suites, Charleston, WV
September 14, 2005 – Radisson Hotel, Huntington, WV
September 27, 2005 – Tamarack Conference Center, Beckley, WV
October 4, 2005 – Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown, WV
October 12, 2005 – Radisson Hotel, Morgantown, WV

For more information regarding these workshops and a summary of findings, please click here.