AFN University

Overview

The Colorado Access and Functional Needs University is a bi-annual event that combines many of our foundational training courses into a consolidated event. This allows participants to develop their knowledge about access and functional needs in emergency management in a condensed timeline. The event draws attendees from across Colorado and the U.S. and provides an opportunity to learn and network with a broad range of professionals, partners, and stakeholders.

The university is in broke down into the following areas of focus:

The Basics

Introduction to the access and functional needs resource framework and the CMIST (Communication, Maintaining Health, Independence, Support Services and Safety, and Transportation) resource memory tool. These course include the following:

• CO-CMIST 4000: Introduction to the Access and Functional Needs Resource Framework in Emergency Management
• CO-CMIST 4017: Moving Beyond the Buzzword of ‘Whole Community Inclusion’ in Emergency Management
• G197: Integrating Access and Functional Needs into Emergency Management

Communications

Dive into the importance of effective and accessible communication resource access when working with your community and agency partners throughout the emergency management cycle, and how to use these resources in your area.

• CO-CMIST 4009: CMIST Response Team - Emergency Response Interpreter
• CO-CMIST 4007: Portable Hearing Loop Training
• CO-CMIST 4006: Language Inclusion in Emergency Management

Community Engagement

Build upon basic CMIST knowledge to learn how to engage the whole community in emergency planning through inclusive preparedness and outreach, as well as strategies to overcome systemic barriers to reaching the whole community. These course include the following:

• CO-CMIST 4014: Chronic Influencers and Disruptions to CMIST Resources - TEICHR Memory Tool
• CO-CMIST 4004: CMIST Response Team - Community Outreach
• CO-CMIST 4010: How to Prepare for Everything - CMIST Resource Disruptions

Operationalizing

Recommendations and guidance on how to integrate the CMIST resource framework into emergency management preparedness, response, and recovery. These course include the following:

• CO-CMIST 4008: CEPA Core Capabilities - CMIST in POETE

January 2025 University

The next Access and Functional Needs University will be held January 2025: Register with the January 2025 Hybrid AFN University Registration Form. 

Dates

• The Basics (Monday, January 6 to Wednesday, January 8, 2025): Introduction to the access and functional needs resource framework and the CMIST (Communication, Maintaining Health, Independence, Support Services and Safety, and Transportation) resource memory tool. 
• Communications (Thursday, January 9 to Friday, January 10, 2025): Dive into the importance of effective and accessible communication resource access when working with your community and agency partners throughout the emergency management cycle, and how to use these resources in your area.
• Operationalizing (Tuesday, January 21, 2025): Recommendations and guidance on how to integrate the CMIST resource framework into emergency management preparedness, response and recovery. 
• Community Engagement (Tuesday,  January 21 to Thursday, January 23, 2025): Build upon basic CMIST knowledge to learn how to engage the whole community in emergency planning through inclusive preparedness and outreach, as well as strategies to overcome systemic barriers to reaching the whole community. 

Courses

• For an overview, see the Schedule At a Glance
• For a detailed schedule, including course descriptions and facilitators see the full agenda

Location

• Address: Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, 3755 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
• Attendees may also participate via Zoom. To receive a Zoom invite, please complete your registration. If you completed registration but did not receive a Zoom invitation, please contact the Access and Functional Needs Team at cdps_dhsem_afn@state.co.us.

Registration

• Registration is required to attend the event. Once registered, you may join any course offered throughout the event. 
• To register, please complete the Google Registration Form . 
• If you are unable to access the form, please contact the Access and Functional Needs Team at cdps_dhsem_afn@state.co.us.
• Important Date: Registration for the January 2025 AFN University will close January 2, 2025.

Accommodations

• We strive to ensure inclusive training experiences that enable all individuals to engage fully. For inquiries about accessibility or to request accommodations, please contact the Access and Functional Needs Team at cdps_dhsem_afn@state.co.us. Please note that we make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations but cannot guarantee fulfillment of all requests. 
• Important Date:  Accommodation requests for the January 2025 event must be received by December 20, 2024. 

Planning Your Time

• To plan your time at the event see the Know Before You Go document.

Background

The Colorado Access and Functional Needs program originally offered a variety of training courses upon request only. The concept of offering a regularly scheduled set of courses (i.e., a ‘university’) was first developed and piloted in 2024 in order to provide a more convenient option for attendees who wished to complete all foundational courses within one timeframe.

Contact Us

For any inquiries or questions, please feel free to email the DHSEM Access and Functional Needs team at cdps_dhsem_afn@state.co.us, call or text Sadie at 720-610-1691.