Deb Hendricks centers disability inclusion in Missouri disaster planning

Deb Hendricks, a disaster preparedness coordinator at the Missouri Department of Mental Health, is using decades of public service and personal advocacy to improve emergency planning for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her work in Jefferson City spans guidebooks, alert cards and inclusive recreation, aiming to keep people with disabilities from being overlooked when disasters hit.

Why it matters: - Disaster plans often miss the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially during floods, tornadoes, severe storms and long power outages. - Hendricks’ work is designed to close that gap by making emergency information more usable for individuals, caregivers and first responders. - Her approach links disability services with emergency management so more residents can be included in preparedness planning.

What happened: - Deb Hendricks serves as Disaster Preparedness Coordinator specializing in Developmental Disabilities at the Missouri Department of Mental Health in Jefferson City, Missouri. - Her role covers disaster planning, emergency response preparedness and incident planning for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - Hendricks has developed disaster emergency preparedness guidebooks and disability alert cards. - The guidebooks help individuals, families and caregivers prepare for emergencies. - The alert cards give responders quick access to essential information during a crisis.

The details: - Hendricks earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Truman State University. - She first worked for a local newspaper, originally planning to become a newspaper reporter. - She later joined the State of Missouri as a communications specialist. - Hendricks spent 19 years as a Public Information Officer with the Missouri Department of Social Services. - Eight of those years were with the Children’s Division, where she contributed to initiatives including the Fatality Review Panel. - She later worked as Voluntary Agency Liaison with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. - In that role, she focused on emergency human services, access and functional needs, and mass care. - Hendricks also served as School Safety Academy Coordinator with the Missouri School Boards’ Association. - She developed training programs for school safety professionals in that position. - Her current work addresses barriers that can affect people with disabilities in emergencies, including trouble understanding changing instructions, dependence on medications or medical equipment, and communication challenges with first responders. - Hendricks is also president of the Central Missouri Miracle League Foundation. - The foundation advocates for inclusive recreation for children and youth with disabilities. - Miracle League programs adapt fields and rules so children with physical and cognitive disabilities can play on a team with volunteer buddies.

Between the lines: - Hendricks’ career path shows how communications experience can translate into emergency planning and disability advocacy. - Her personal motivation is tied to her son, Chance, who has Down syndrome. - She says her work is driven by purpose, compassion and a belief that proactive planning protects lives and builds a more inclusive world. - For young women entering emergency management, Hendricks advises staying open to opportunities even when they do not match the original plan. - She describes career paths as more like a jungle gym than a ladder, with unexpected turns that can lead to the right role. - Her story about the stranded person on a roof is meant to reinforce the idea that help can arrive in unexpected forms.

What’s next: - Hendricks will continue focusing on preparedness resources and advocacy for people with disabilities. - Her work suggests continued attention on inclusive emergency planning as more agencies address access and functional needs. - Her role at the Missouri Department of Mental Health and her leadership with Miracle League point to ongoing efforts in both emergency readiness and community inclusion.

The bottom line: - Hendricks is trying to make sure disaster planning works for everyone, not just the people easiest to reach in a crisis. - Her career blends public service, disability advocacy and emergency management into one mission: keep people with disabilities safe when emergencies strike.

Learn more about Deb Hendricks