Breaking Barriers: Disabilities Awareness for First Responders

Class Information: 

Our national Breaking Barriers program provides comprehensive training to first responders, on how to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities while training them on how they can better understand and recognize the reactions and perceptions that they might encounter during an emergency situation, and how to break down potential barriers of service.  The course covers understanding and awareness, communication, misconceptions, and stress points and actions of the individual with a disability, allowing for a better understanding of how to work with these behaviors, and what they mean.  

Instructor Information: 

Todd Edwards has over 36 years of experience in the fire services. Starting his career at 16 years old with a small combination department in Ohio, Todd then moved to Georgia where he spent more than 30 years with Atlanta Fire Rescue.  During his career with Atlanta, he held a variety of positions including Captain, Battalion Chief and Assistant Fire Chief.  While with Atlanta, Todd developed and taught the majority of the city training curriculum, and co-developed the city Standard Operating Guidelines.  After retiring in 2018, he served the city as a consultant and the lead instructor / coordinator for Atlanta’s Officer Development Program.  While working with Atlanta, Todd was also the Lead Instructor for Walton County Fire Rescue in northeast Georgia.  For the past 20 years, Todd has also been an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy.  Todd has also developed countless training programs currently being utilized by numerous departments, specializing in department-based curriculums for training and fire ground operations. In 2016 Edwards started Fire-Life Training Associates, and Breaking Barriers, which specializes in disabilities awareness training for first responders, and interactive training for families with children that have special needs.   Through both of these companies, Todd travels and provides superior training nationwide. Todd Edwards has been recognized numerous times, including receiving the Award of Merit for Bravery and the Fire Chief’s Award of Distinction.

All attendees of this class will receive a certificate of completion from the Alabama Fire College.