The Imperative of Prioritizing Accessibility and Inclusion in Emergency Management Consulting
A Guide to Hiring the Right Consultants
As the climate crisis escalates and many emergency managers are often in a constant state of response and recovery, more and more emergency management consultants have stepped in to assist in the preparedness and planning phase. There are more emergency management consultancy firms than ever right now, contributing to an oversaturated market. What are you supposed to look out for in this time of oversaturation? What makes a firm stand out?
Let’s start it off simply: what are emergency management consultants doing? Well, just about everything that emergency managers do, you will find consultants creating and updating Emergency Operations Plans and Hazard Mitigation Plans, conducting trainings and exercises, augmenting staff in State Emergency Operations Center, and assisting local governments in grant management. Overall, consultants bring valuable expertise, resources, and support to organizations, helping them build resilient and effective emergency management practices that save lives and protect communities during times of crisis. But what if your consultant does not practice whole community planning techniques? What if they don’t understand how to facilitate inclusive community engagement initiatives incorporating diverse communities? What if they don’t understand the principles of universal design? If your consultant is not doing these things, they are not protecting the whole community; they are only protecting populations they deem “worthy” of protection. By prioritizing accessibility and inclusion in your decision-making process for hiring, you will enhance the safety of your community, improve your communication access, increase your participation, create better response and recovery outcomes, reduce vulnerability and risk, and so on.
When hiring a consulting firm, we offer you these recommendations to ensure that they prioritize accessibility and inclusion:
Ensure Expertise in Accessibility and Inclusion Practices. One of the first ways to ensure your consultant has expertise in accessibility and inclusion is to incorporate certain criteria into the Request for Proposal (RFP). Ask specific questions about how they incorporate accessibility considerations into their planning, response, and recovery strategies. Inquire about their strategies for identifying and addressing the needs of diverse populations. Remember, you are hiring them; they work for you, but it is your responsibility to ensure they work best for your community. Specify that all communication materials related to the project must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Require that, when necessary, language access services are provided to ensure effective communication with individuals with limited English proficiency or those who speak languages other than English. Emphasize the importance of inclusive community engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
Confirm Understanding of Diverse Communities and Their Needs. Ensuring your consultant understands diverse communities and their needs is essential for effective emergency management. Here are some approaches you could take:
-When evaluating your consultant's proposal, pay attention to any mentions of cultural competency and sensitivity.
-If the proposal should include community meetings, evaluate tailored strategies or interventions that the consultant proposes to address the unique needs of diverse communities.
-Review the consultant’s network of partnerships and relationships with community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders representing diverse communities. A consultant who has established connections with these communities is more likely to understand their needs and perspectives.
-Incorporate diversity and inclusion criteria in the consultant selection process to ensure the candidates are evaluated based on their commitment to understanding and addressing the needs of diverse communities. Consider cultural competence, experience working with underserved populations, and sensitivity to diversity issues.
Track Record of Successful Projects. Multiple approaches can be taken when tracking a consultant’s record of successful projects. Request for Proposals typically includes a past references section; when evaluating these, make note of any accessibility and inclusion strategies that they make a note of. If time allows, reach out to the consultant's previous clients and ask about their experience, the consultant's level of experience, and the effectiveness of their approaches. Ask if they felt their community’s needs were adequately understood and addressed. During the selection process, if interviews occur, inquire about specific projects or initiatives where the consultant has successfully engaged with communities of different cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, languages, ages, abilities, and other demographic factors. By systematically gathering and evaluating information on the consultant’s record of successful projects, you can make informed decisions about how they can best serve your community.
Prioritizing accessibility and inclusion when selecting an emergency management consultant is paramount for ensuring equitable and effective emergency management efforts. By choosing consultants who understand the diverse needs of your community, organizations can better address barriers marginalized populations face during emergencies. It's imperative to recognize that inclusive practices not only enhance safety and protection but also foster community resilience and social cohesion. Therefore, I urge organizations to make informed decisions when hiring consultants, considering factors such as expertise in accessibility, experience working with diverse communities, and a track record of successful projects promoting inclusivity. By prioritizing access and inclusion, organizations can build stronger partnerships, enhance community engagement, and ultimately save lives and protect the most vulnerable members of society.
