Niagara University First Responder Advocacy Training (FRAT)

Do you want to make sure First Responders are educated on responding to people with disabilities?

The Niagara University (NU) First Responder Advocacy Training (FRAT) for Disability Advocates provides you with the opportunity get the tools to work with your police and fire departments, EMS/ambulance services and your 9-1-1 Call Centers to make sure they not only know your needs, but the needs of others in the disability community. 

Advocating for oneself and those with similar interests may be the single most important step in achieving systemic change. NU’s FRAT teaches about advocacy and how to effectively apply it with first responders. Most fire fighters, police officers, emergency medical services personnel, and 9-1-1 telecommunicators want to do right in their interactions with the public, but misunderstanding and misperceptions coupled with a lack of knowledge in the field of disabilities and incidents and response can go wrong in a hurry. 

This two-hour training provides you with help on how to inform first responders of your needs, how to be a partner with those first responder agencies, and how to become a resource for those agencies, all while learning the basics of first and emergency response and why this program is important.

In order to receive certification attendees must: 

1. Attend FRAT

2. Take the quiz

3. Identify their local police department, fire department, ambulance service (may be within the fire department), and 9-1-1 PSAP/Call center.

4. Contact a person in an administrative capacity. This could be any of the following; Police: Chief, Deputy Chief, Sheriff, Undersheriff, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Fire: Chief, Deputy/Assistant Chief, 9-1-1 PSAP: Supervisor, Undersheriff (many PSAPs are overseen by the Sheriff’s Office), EMS/Ambulance Services: EMS Chief, Administrator

A. Ask if they have a trainer

a. If they do, have they conducted the training?

b. Did all personnel receive the training?

c. Do they do periodic ongoing training?

5. If not, introduce the FRDAT program

A. Send them the brief and website

B. Answer any questions to the best of your ability

C. Direct them to NU FRDAT to receive all the information on the program

6. Introduce the Quality Improvement Infrastructure program

NU understands some people may need assistance with all six steps, to include the quiz. Participation in any form is accepted and not judged or graded. The bottom line intent is that individuals with disabilities understand first responder advocacy and establish, to varying degrees, a relationship with their local departments with the end result being an enhanced awareness of the individual and their needs and the disability community as a whole.