Climate Change, Emergency Preparedness, and Disability
Brian Snyder talks to April Dawson-Rawlings and Russell Dawson-Rawlings
It’s peak fire season, and today we’re talking emergency preparation and climate change. Our guests today are April Dawson-Rawlings and Russell Dawson-Rawlings. Both long-time disability advocates, April is currently studying at McGeorge School of Law and she serves as the executive director of the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA). This role involves collaborating with stakeholders in business, disability advocacy, and local and state government to increase business accessibility and reduce litigation. April is passionate about working with communities to find common ground on complex issues. She was born with Spina Bifida and is a wheelchair user, road trip enthusiast and kayaker.
Russell currently serves as the California Foundation of Independent Living Centers Communications and Strategic Partnerships Manager. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, both as a wheels on the ground community organizer with Disability Organizing Group For Initiating Total Equality, and Occupy Sacramento as well as leadership positions with disability related advisory groups and the Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness. Russell believes Disability community leaders must be at the forefront of a progressive society, because barriers to access are also barriers to progress. Passionate about accessible transformational justice for all people, Russell also knows the transformational power of humor and performs stand up and improv comedy in his spare time.
Guest hosting today is Brian Snyder, FREED’s Emergency Preparedness Specialist, with a round table discussion on the realities of climate change, and how they impact the disability community. Brian has been with FREED since 2018 and has had multiple roles, with extensive experience in emergency preparedness and response during snowstorms, wildfires, and public safety power shut off events. Brian also brings a wealth of media experience to the show, as a graduate of UCLA’s school of theatre, film and television, he has worked in the entertainment industry and produced two episodes of the American Unity Project focused on Peace Literacy, and his own podcast. Brian has Usher syndrome, a rare genetic condition resulting in blindness and moderate hearing loss.
Click here to listen to and read the transcript of the show.