Why I Serve...
"I choose to serve because I believe in communication equity and inclusivity for all people who are Deaf, DeafBlind, Late Deafened, and Hard of Hearing in all emergency notifications, services, programs, and activities before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. My goal is that no people with hearing loss are left behind."
Donna Platt, M.S. is the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with the North Carolina Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. NCDSDHH works to ensure that all Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind North Carolinians have the ability to communicate their needs and to receive information easily and effectively in all aspects of their lives, especially their health and well-being. Donna has more than 20 years of experience providing consultation, training, resources, and collaboration with emergency responders and 9-1-1 telecommunicators in North Carolina and in Washington State. Her area of focus is effective communication in 9-1-1 technologies and throughout all phases of emergency management. Donna has both professional and personal experiences with emergency events since 2016 including Hurricanes Matthew and Florence and a FEMA COVID-19 vaccination site. She is currently involved in numerous work groups in the NC Emergency Management’s Human Services Branch and serves as the National Emergency Number Association’s Accessibility Committee Co-Chair. In addition, she is a prior member of several national committees including the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Subcommittee under Federal Emergency Management Administration’s National Advisory Council.
Donna has a Master of Science in Education Technology from Gallaudet University and a Bachelor of Science in Social work from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Donna enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.
