Power Resilience

Access to power is access to life

Power is something many of us rely on every day—often without thinking about it. But during emergencies like power outages, wildfires, or extreme heat, losing power can quickly become dangerous, especially for disabled people.

Power resilience means making sure you have safe, reliable ways to keep your essential devices working—before, during, and after an emergency.

Power Is Not Just Individual—It’s Collective

Power resilience is not something we build alone.

We can:

• Share resources with neighbors or community members
• Check on each other during outages
• Build support networks (pods)
• Plan together

Preparedness is not about doing everything yourself—it’s about making sure we all have what we need to stay safe.

The needs assessment survey helps us understand how often people with disabilities experience power outages, what devices or supports they need power for, and what types of backup or solar-powered options would best meet their needs.

The survey takes about 10 to 15 minutest to complete.

Power supports our health, safety, and connection.

It helps us:

• Charge mobility devices and essential medical equipment
• Keep medications safe (through refrigeration)
• Stay connected to others (phones, internet, communication devices)
• Regulate temperature (fans, heaters)
• Have light to support visibility
• Keep food safe to eat

When power goes out, our supports to meet our basic needs can go away. That’s why planning ahead matters.

Power resilience is about:

• Having backup ways to charge and power your devices
• Knowing how much energy you need
• Having more than one option (because one system can fail)
• Building community support and shared resources

It’s not just about equipment—it’s about safety, independence, and interdependence.

There are a few main ways people can store and use power during emergencies:

Energy Storage (Saving Power)

These hold energy so you can use it later.

• Portable power banks
• Backup batteries
• Power stations

These are helpful for phones, communication devices, and some medical equipment.

Power Generation (Making Power)

These create power when you need it.

• Solar panels
• Hand crank devices
• Generators

Solar is especially helpful because it can be used again and again without fuel.

Lighting (Seeing in the Dark)

Light is essential for safety and navigation.

• Flashlights
• Headlamps
• Lanterns

Even small amounts of light can make a big difference in an emergency.

Power devices are important—but they can also be fragile.

You can protect them by:

• Keeping them in waterproof bags
• Storing them in safe, easy-to-find places
• Labeling them clearly
• Keeping them charged and maintained

Start Where You Are

You don’t need everything at once.

Start with a plan for your most important needs. It could include items like:

• One backup charger
• Extra batteries for a flashlight
• A way to stay connected

Then build from there.

At Upstream Access, we are building solutions—not just talking about the problem. We support power resilience through:

• Accessible trainings
• Community workshops
• Device distribution
• Personalized support
• Plain language resources
• Collective care approaches

Because everyone deserves access to power—and the safety it brings.

Power Resilience Advisory Group

We are creating a national advisory group made up of disabled people, community members, and partners.

This group will:

• Guide research on power resilience
• Share real-life experiences and needs
• Help shape programs that actually work
• Ensure solutions are accessible, sustainable, and community-led

Our goal is to build systems that last—and that center the voices of those most impacted.

Backup Power Access Program

We provide backup power devices to community members who need them as our funding and conditions allow. We are continuously looking for funding to provide backup power resources.

These devices include:

• Solar-powered chargers
• Rechargeable battery packs
• Solar panels paired with power stations

We don’t just hand out devices—we also:

• Show people how to use them
• Talk through real-life scenarios
• Support people in figuring out what works best for their needs

This helps people:

• Stay connected during outages
• Power essential devices
• Feel more prepared and confident

Personalized Support: Power Resilience Navigators

At Upstream Access, we believe power solutions should fit the person—not the other way around.

We work to ensure that:

• Devices and plans are personalized
• Items are accessible and usable
• Support reflects each person’s daily life and needs

We are identifying and training Power Resilience Navigators to help with this.

Navigators will:

• Work one-on-one with people
• Help identify power needs (like medical devices or communication tools)
• Support choosing the right equipment
• Walk through how to use and maintain devices
• Help build a plan that works in real life

Because preparedness should feel possible—not overwhelming.

Building Toward Long-Term Solutions

Our work is about both immediate support and long-term change.

We are working toward:

• Sustainable power access for disabled communities
• Programs that can grow across Oregon and beyond
• National models for disability-centered power resilience