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About California Connect

We provide communication access for Californians with hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, and speech-related disabilities.
Need help? Give us a call at 1-800-806-1191
There are five circular photos with yellow lines connecting five individuals. Photo descriptions from left to right: 1) A woman sitting on a couch next to a wooden table. The table has a photo, lamp and a landline telephone with enlarged dial pad. The woman has dark skin, medium length hair, is wearing a white turtleneck top and is smiling while holding the telephone to her ear. 2) A girl with fair skin and strawberry blonde medium length hair is looking up to her left, away from the camera. She is wearing a tie-dyed sweatshirt. She has a feeding tube taped on her cheek. She is holding a tablet in both of her hands. 3) A man with dark skin and shaggy medium hair is looking away from the camera to his right. He is wearing a yellow shirt, silver necklace with pendant and a cordless headset phone. 4) A woman is sitting in front of her desk with a blue wall and a frame behind her. On her desk is a landline telephone and flowers. The woman has fair skin and red hair. She is wearing a pastel peach color buttoned up shirt and a black blazer. She is holding the telephone to her ear and is smiling. 5) A man with dark skin and short hair is smiling away from the camera to his right. He is wearing glasses, an orange shirt and a plaid buttoned shirt that is left open. He also is wearing a hearing device around his neck.

Emergency Preparedness Resources

Preparedness is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach, especially for individuals with accessibility needs. Effective preparedness efforts are inclusive, accessible, and tailored to meet individual communication and mobility needs.
Need help? Give us a call at 1-800-806-1191
  • A black man wearing a gold long sleeve shirt wearing a headset and microphone device to communicate with others.
  • A female young adult wearing rainbow tie dye sweatshirt, looking afar from her wheelchair, holding an iPad device in her hand.
  • An Asian man with black-rimmed glasses and hair, long sleeve plaid shirt and a green t-shirt, listening through a device and smiling.
  • A white Deaf man wearing a gold hat and gold-rimmed glasses. The man is wearing a tan t-shirt and has a flower tattoo on his left neck.
  • A blind Black woman wearing a white turtleneck shirt and blouse sitting on the couch, holding a white phone to her ear, listening to the caller on the other end of the line.
If your California Connect device was lost or damaged due to a natural disaster, please call 1-800-806-1191 for a replacement. We will expedite your shipment to get you reconnected as quickly as possible.

Four Essential Steps for Personal Emergency Preparedness

Planning with your specific needs in mind helps ensure safety and confidence during an emergency. Follow these four essential steps to prepare:

Create a Personalized Emergency Plan: Account for specific medical needs, assistive technology, service animals, and accessible transportation options. Share this plan with care providers, family members, or neighbors who can assist during an emergency.


Stay Connected with Accessible Communication: Set up multiple methods to receive emergency alerts, including text messages, phone calls, or visual notifications. Prepare for potential power outages by maintaining backup communication options, such as a portable battery-operated radio.


Build an Emergency Kit Tailored to Your Needs: Pack essential supplies including spare batteries, device chargers for mobility or communication devices, copies of medical information in accessible formats, and specialized equipment that supports independence.


Practice and Review Your Plan Regularly: Test evacuation routes, verify accessible transportation options, and practice responses for emergency scenarios such as wildfires, earthquakes, or extreme heat events.



Emergency Preparedness Guides and Toolkits

Staying prepared for emergencies like wildfires, earthquakes, extreme heat, and power outages is vital for every Californian. Below is a curated list of official state resources, planning guides, and accessible toolkits to help you build an emergency strategy.

Primary State Emergency Portals

Primary State Emergency Portals A-Z by County

A – C D – I K – M N – R S T – Y

Additional Resources

Accessible & Functional Needs Resources

Hazard-Specific Preparedness Resources

Public Health & Family Readiness

Transportation and Evacuation Routes

Utilities and Power Shutoff (PSPS) Resources

Community Assistance and Relief

  • 211 California: A free, confidential service available 24/7. Dialing 2-1-1 connects residents with local community services, disaster relief, emergency shelters, and health resources in multiple languages.
  • American Red Cross - California Region: The primary NGO partner for the state during disasters, offering open shelter maps, disaster relief assistance, and recovery resources.

Animal and Pet Preparedness

Weather and Flood Alerts

Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke

Earthquake Early Warning

  • MyShake App: Developed by UC Berkeley and sponsored by Cal OES, this free smartphone app delivers localized earthquake early warnings directly to your device so you can "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" before the shaking reaches your location.

Immigrant and Undocumented Resident Support

  • CDSS Disaster Assistance for Immigrant Californians: The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provides guides in multiple languages on how undocumented residents can access state-sponsored disaster relief, food assistance, and emergency shelter without fear of deportation.

Post-Disaster Recovery & Insurance Claims

Local Training and Volunteering

  • California Volunteers- Disaster Volunteering: The state office manages volunteer efforts, including links to join your local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). CERT programs train residents in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.

Specialized Disability & Independent Living Support

  • Disability Disaster Access and Resources (DDAR): Administered by the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), this program helps individuals with disabilities and older adults maintain independence during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) by providing backup batteries, hotel vouchers, and accessible transportation.
  • Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC): A state agency that works with local Independent Living Centers (ILCs) across California to ensure emergency preparedness programs are physically and programmatically accessible.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Regional Agencies

Mental Health and Crisis Recovery

  • CalHOPE: A free state-sponsored program providing crisis counseling, emotional support, and mental health resources to Californians navigating the trauma and stress of natural disasters.
  • The Disaster Distress Helpline: A national, 24/7 hotline (available via phone or text) providing immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.

Environmental & Chemical Hazards

  • California Poison Control System (CPCS): Essential for post-disaster scenarios involving contaminated water, chemical spills, or unsafe food storage after prolonged power outages. They offer a 24/7 free hotline for emergency medical advice.

Contact

Contact Center
P.O. Box 30310
Stockton, CA 95213
Phone/VP: 1-800-806-1191
Email: info@caconnect.org
Fax: 1-800-889-3974

About

Welcome to California Connect, also called the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP), which provides communication access for Californians with hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, and speech-related disabilities. The program of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) includes accessible communication equipment and devices, relay service, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
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