CEPIN PROJECT UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE

Silver Spring, Md.* – The Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) has launched its new website at http://www.cepintdi.org.

The website seeks to encourage awareness and networking among emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing people. “This reflects TDI and CEPIN’s commitment to making emergency preparedness information accessible at all times,” said Neil McDevitt, CEPIN National Coordinator. “Consumers and emergency responders can find a wealth of information to help them prepare and respond to emergencies in an effective manner.”

The new website includes information on disability laws and emergency response, programs that have been created in local communities that strengthen communication between deaf and hard of hearing people and emergency responders, details about the CEPIN course and much more. A text version can also be found on the website.

The CEPIN project began in 2004 when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. a grant to create a emergency preparedness course for emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing individuals. As a result the /Emergency Responders and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Taking the First Steps to Emergency Preparedness/ course made its debut.

“TDI is proud to have worked with HandSplash on developing the new CEPIN website as/ /an essential resource for emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing consumers,” said Claude Stout, TDI Executive Director. “This is just one of the many building blocks that make our push for an accessible community a successful one.”

HandSplash Creative Group contributed their expertise to the design of the website.

“In emergency situations, deaf or hard of hearing people should be afforded quick access to critical information,” said Tony Nitko, HandSplash creative director. “Our focus on the new CEPIN website was to keep that ideal in mind, creating a site that is simple, modern, yet easily navigable and accessible, while also giving CEPIN a content management system that allows their staff to update crucial information quickly without depending on outside sources.”

**About CEPIN:**

The CEPIN Project is coordinated by Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded TDI nearly $1.5 million for the two-year CEPIN project, which focuses on developing model community education programs for emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing consumers.

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