C-MIST:The Functional Needs Framework

BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

PERSON

1. With a complex set of needs

2. When needs are met

3. Person has ability to participate in community and contribute to society

PERSON WITH FUNCTIONAL NEEDS

1. With a complex set of needs

2. Experiences environmental barriers (physical, social and economic) to having needs met

3. Remove barriers

4. Person has ability to participate and contribute

People may have limitations in any of the following functional areas:

• Hearing• Seeing• Breathing• Walking and mobility• Manipulating objects• Speech• Communication• Learning• Understanding

For the purposes of emergency planning and response, the functional needs framework looks at 5 categories:

C-MIST• Communication

• Medical

• Independence

• Supervision

• Transportation

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS - Includes people who:

• Have limited or no ability to speak, read or understand English

• Have reduced or no ability to speak, see or hear

• Have limitations in learning and understanding

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS – During an emergency people may not be

able to:

• Hear verbal announcements

• See directional signs to assistance services

• Understand the message

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS – Includes people who need assistance

with:• Activities of daily living -

bathing, eating etc.• Managing chronic or

contagious health conditions, medications, IV therapy, tube feeds, wounds, catheters, ostomies

• Dialysis, oxygen, suction• Operating power

dependent equipment

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS - During an emergency:

• Some people may be separated from family and friends

• Early identification of needs and disaster response intervention can avoid costly deterioration of health and functional needs

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS – Includes people who use the following to function

on a daily basis:

• Mobility aids - wheelchairs, walkers, scooters

• Communication aids - hearing aids, computers

• Medical equipment - oxygen, syringes

• Service animals• Medications

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS – During an emergency:

• Individuals may become separated from their assistive equipment and devices or service animals

• Do not separate an individual from their service animal

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS - Includes people with any of the following:

• Dementia• Alzheimer’s• Depression• Schizophrenia• Anxiety• Transfer trauma• Brain injury• Developmental

disabilities• Severe mental illness

FUNCTIONAL NEEDS – Includes people who can not drive due to:

• Disability• Age• Temporary injury• Poverty• Addiction• Legal restrictions• No access to a

vehicle

Meeting functional needs requires a few extra steps…

• A person who is deaf may need referral to food and lodging + ASL interpretation services

• A senior with low vision may need registration and inquiry and psychosocial support + information in large print

• A new immigrant with low-proficiency in English may need first aid + interpretation and translation in their first language

Using C-MIST as an encompassing tool for planning

• It makes no sense to plan separately for each vulnerable population

• We need to shift away from “special needs” planning and response

• The FNF can be used to plan for the needs of all members of the community

• Think ALL HAZARDS ALL PEOPLE

EXAMPLE - EVACUATION

• Make sure transportation is provided for people without cars.

• Ensure that the equipment people need for medical reasons, communication and for functional independence is transported with them.

C-MIST

Questions & Comments?

BC Coalition of People with Disabilities

www.bccpd.bc.ca