DAT News

Town Hall training coming to Niagara University

Thursday, 18 August 2011 08:04

Disability Awareness Training's (DAT) popular advocacy training program is moving to the campus of Niagara University (NU). Developed by David Whalen and unveiled in 2010, this training initiative looks to educate disability advocates on how to work within their municipality so as to ensure proper response to individuals with disabilities. It discusses how to establish a committee on disabilities, identification of the town's ADA coordinator, pertinent laws that need to be adhered to within a municipality, accessibility, recreation and leisure, and First Responders and emergency management specific training. The latter is in direct correlation to the grant David received with Niagara in developing the statewide training for all police, fire and emergency medical services in New York State.

DAT had collaborated with The Advocacy Center out of Rochester, NY last year in the inaugural year of the project. Together the two achieved much success and had some 30 municipalities represented with the intent that they begin to address the expectations laid forth in the training. With the move to NU Dave and his staff will be able to better monitor progress and support trained advocates as they work to enhance their town's response to the barriers and challenges they face in regards to properly serving their citizens with disabilities. It will also allow for NU to track the trainings occurring in their fire and police departments and address any systemic issues that are occurring.

David Whalen invited to White House for historic signing

Saturday, 12 March 2011 14:00

David Whalen, founder of Disability Awareness Training, has accepted an invitation to the White House for a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA and the Disability Rights Network. The signing will take place on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 3:00pm. FEMA administrator Craig Fugate and Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security on the National Security Staff, Heidi Avery, will show the Obama administration's commitment to emergency preparedness for people with disabilities by signing the MOU with the National Disability Rights Network.

David has developed training addressing emergency management and the proper response to individuals with disabilities. He recently presented at the New York State Emergency Managers Association conference in Syracuse, NY. He has been at Niagara University working on the statewide curriculum development for First Responders, where he is collaborating with disability advocates, parents, service providers, and First Responders to ensure there is proper and precise training for police, fire, and EMS. Some of his current initiatives have a direct link to emergency management.

David chairs the NYS Independent Living Council's emergency preparedness committee and is working through NYSILC on a collaborative effort with Region II and their response to individuals with disabilities in New York City and beyond relative to catastrophic preparedness. He submitted a proposal on behalf of NYSILC for outreach and training in this area.

Building Capacities in Local Communities

Saturday, 12 February 2011 17:27

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 had as one it's primary premises 'accessibility for all', however if you ask individuals most in need of accessible alterations and modifications, you'll find that the law has not fulfilled this objective.

Many people in the community who have a base knowledge of the ADA think all must be good now as businesses must be in compliance. But they fail to understand that enforcement is inconsistent AND knowledge of how to implement accessibility is gravely lacking.

So how do we get proper response to accessibility in communities to be both understood and implemented? It all starts with disability awareness training. We simply can not expect people who do not live with a disability to adhere to a law they know very little, if anything, about and be responsive to individual needs. However, when we sensitize them followed by education on the topic and how to meet accessibility standards, businesses and public entities become more receptive. But it doesn't stop there.

Read more: Building Capacities in Local Communities

Disability Awareness Training receives NYS DDPC grant through collaboration with Niagara University

Saturday, 13 November 2010 00:40

Dave Whalen has been hired by Niagara University as the Statewide Project Coordinator to oversee the development of the curriculum for the three year grant received from the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. Disability Awareness Training and Niagara University received a small scale grant four years ago from Verizon to train locallaw enforcement. The DDPC grant will address law enforcement, Fire fighters, and Emergency Medical Services across NYS. Please see the attached Press Release for more info. To contact the office call 716-286-7355 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to view the press release from Niagara University.

Business First Features David Whalen

Monday, 23 August 2010 11:49

The August 13, 2010 edition of Business First, Western New York's Business Newspaper, featured an article about David Whalen's efforts to increase awareness for disability issues.

Visit the newspaper online to read the full article: http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/08/16/smallb2.html

Disability Awareness Training honored by Quota International

Thursday, 03 June 2010 08:31

Disability Awareness Training is being recognized by Quota International of Amherst (NY) on Thursday, June 17th.

Quota International, founded in 1919, is an international service organization that links members of all ages, occupations, and nationalities in a worldwide network of service and friendship.

With a motto of "we share," Quotarians are known especially for their service to deaf, hard-of-hearing, and speech-impaired individuals and disadvantaged women and children. Quota members share the values of serving and encouraging others, developing friendships, and promoting international understanding.

Quota will be awarding DAT with a monetary donation that will be used to train Diocese of Buffalo Parish disability advocates on June 22. This will forward the move to ensure all individuals of the Catholic faith in Western New York are fully accepted in their churches and faith community.