View Position Qualification

9-509-1284

Name

Access and Functional Needs Advisor (NQS)

Status

Published

Version

1.8

Updated

11/12/2021 3:48:38 PM

Original Release

11/10/2017

Last Major Release

Resource Category

Mass Care Services

Primary Core Capability

Mass Care Services

Secondary Core Capability

Resource Kind

Personnel

Overall Function

The Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Advisor supports and assists incident management personnel on matters related to people with disabilities and AFN

Single resource

In conjunction with a NIMS typed team

NIMS Typed Team

In conjunction with a NIMS typed unit

NIMS Typed Unit

Description Notes

Not Specified

Supporting Core Capabilities
None

Types
Type 1	The AFN Advisor: 1. Supports and assists state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies’ incident management personnel on issues related to people with disabilities and AFN 2. Advises incident leadership on physical access, effective communication access, and programmatic access 3. Coordinates with subject matter experts, Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), voluntary agencies, community groups, and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO) and recommends equal access and reasonable modifications 4. Assists responders who are identifying and coordinating subject matter experts to help with resources and services, including accessible transportation resources, recovery assistance, search and rescue, public health, emergency messaging, emergency sheltering, feeding, and accessible evacuation operations 5. Ensures facilities and services meet all accessibility requirements

Type 1

The AFN Advisor: 1. Supports and assists state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies’ incident management personnel on issues related to people with disabilities and AFN 2. Advises incident leadership on physical access, effective communication access, and programmatic access 3. Coordinates with subject matter experts, Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), voluntary agencies, community groups, and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO) and recommends equal access and reasonable modifications 4. Assists responders who are identifying and coordinating subject matter experts to help with resources and services, including accessible transportation resources, recovery assistance, search and rescue, public health, emergency messaging, emergency sheltering, feeding, and accessible evacuation operations 5. Ensures facilities and services meet all accessibility requirements

Education

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	Not Specified

Training

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator Training Certification Program and other relevant coursework related to providing engagement, assistance, and community service coordination and disability accommodations for people with accessibility needs is preferable.

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	Completion of the following: 1. IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS-100 2. IS-200: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200 3. IS-700: National Incident Management System, An Introduction 4. E/L0197: Integrating Access and Functional Needs into Emergency Planning 5. E/G/L 0191: Emergency Operations Center/Incident Command System Interface

Experience

Not Specified

Type 1

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Familiarity with relevant guidance and legislation, such as: a. FEMA Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters b. ADA c. Department of Justice guidance, such as the ADA Checklist for Emergency Shelters and the ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments d. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 e. Fair Housing Act of 1968 Experience: 1. Successful completion of the National Qualification System (NQS) Position Task Book (PTB) for the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Access and Functional Needs Advisor, or equivalent AHJ documentation 2. Experience in a leadership role providing advocacy and community inclusion engagement assistance and support to individuals with disabilities and others with AFN

Physical/Medical Fitness

The NIMS Guideline for the NQS defines Physical/Medical Fitness levels for NQS positions.

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	Light

Currency

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	Functions in this position during an operational incident, planned event, exercise, drill, or simulation at least once every five years

Professional and Technical Licenses and Certifications

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	Not Specified

Composition and Ordering Specifications
Specification
Requestor may specify any additional qualifications necessary based on incident complexity and needs
Discuss logistics for deploying this position, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment

1438

Notes

References
Reference
FEMA, National Qualification System (NQS) Position Task Book for Access and Functional Needs Advisor, latest edition adopted
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
FEMA, NIMS Guideline for NQS, November 2017
FEMA, National Response Framework, June 2016
FEMA, Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters, November 2010
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for Emergency Shelters, July 2007
U.S. DOJ, Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, September 2010
U.S. DOJ, ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments, December 2006
U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Rehabilitation Act, 1973
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), Fair Housing Act, 1968