Linda Carter

A Lehigh Area advocate for the disabled has been selected as a delegate to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA_ “Getting Real 2010 Inclusive Emergency Management National Capacity Building Training Conference.”

Linda Carter, a member of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corp. (LACP) will attend the event between Sept. 22-24. It will be held t the Renaissance Baltimore Harbor Place Hotel in downtown Baltimore

This three-day interactive training conference brings the disability and emergency management community leaders together from across the county to build national capacity for inclusive emergency management practices.

In Lee County and in Lehigh Acres in particular, Carter has been a spokesman for the Americans with Disabilities Act and is the executive director of the No Person Left Behind Program.

A few years ago, Carter drew up a comprehensive plan for disabled people who may find themselves in an emergency like a hurricane. A state-wide list of people who have disabilities was adopted by the state and gives emergency officials the location of disabled people so they can be contacted and even brought to emergency shelters if they have no way of getting there.

It was Carter’s way of remembering and accounting for disabled people who if live alone are often forgotten when there are emergencies.

Carter applied for the program and was accepted. FEMA received more than 50 applications for this conference which is being hosted by FEMA’s Office of Disability integration and Coordination .

The cost of transportation and lodging will be reimbursed to those who attend

Carter said only three will be attending from Florida.

“There will be attendees like myself who are advocates to the disabled coming from all over the country,” Carter said.

In addition to being active as director of the No Person Left Behind Program, Carter has been active in the Southwest Florida American with Disabilities organization.

“I think by attending, I will gain even more information for people with disabilities and that information can be brought back here in Lee County. I am looking forward to the visit.”

Carter uses a wheel chair which came about from injuries in Vietnam related to Agent Orange. Carter also has eyesight problems.