Over the past year, LINC and the Idaho State Independent Living Council have had the opportunity to partner with Ada County Paramedics on something both simple and powerful: making life-saving emergency training more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.
What began as a Stop the Bleed training during a LINC staff in-service quickly evolved into an ongoing collaboration focused on improving how emergency preparedness training is delivered within the disability community. Rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought, Ada County Paramedics leaned into the conversation and asked an important question: “How can we do this better?”
Together, we explored practical adaptations that make trainings more usable and effective for everyone. These included allowing additional learning time, reading slides aloud for participants who are blind or have low vision, giving participants the opportunity to physically explore equipment like tourniquets during instruction, and developing accommodation request processes and accessible training materials.
Most importantly, this partnership reinforces a critical message: people with disabilities are not just recipients of emergency response—they are responders, leaders, family members, coworkers, and community members who are often first on the scene when emergencies happen. We are incredibly grateful to Mark Babson, Heather Geisel, Cody Price, and the entire Ada County Paramedics team for their willingness to listen, adapt, and lead. Their work is helping build a stronger, safer, and more inclusive community for everyone. This is what meaningful collaboration looks like.
If you are interested in participating in a future inclusive Stop the Bleed training, we encourage you to reach out to LINC for more information about upcoming classes and opportunities.