Safer Together: How Disability Inclusive DRM Protects Lives and Builds Resilience
Inclusive Disaster Risk Management, vulnerability and resilience, disability and inclusion The technical session addressed the following aspects: (i) the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities during disasters and emphasized the need for inclusive disaster risk management (DRM); (ii) how to integrate the needs of persons with disabilities into DRM practices and urban resilience initiatives to enhance their safety and resilience; and (iii) provided valuable insights into building a more inclusive and resilient future for all by sharing experiences and success practical approaches.
“Including the voices of people with disabilities is critical to ensure that we, as practitioners, address the challenges they face based on their own experiences” – Dr. Raed Arafat, Secretary of State, Head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania “When providing support to people with disabilities, it is very important to pay very specific attention to the context and ensure when and how it is appropriate to help and support persons with disabilities.” – Dr. Genora Joseph, Project Manager of the Housing Recovery Project and Senior Engineer of the Government’s Major Capital Projects Office, Dominica
• Inclusive DRM Challenges: Disasters disproportionately impact persons with disabilities due to physical, communication, and social barriers, necessitating more inclusive DRM practices. • Policy and Framework Development: Emphasized the importance of creating and implementing inclusive policies and frameworks to protect and support persons with disabilities before, during and after disasters occur. • Community and Institutional Responses: Highlighted the need for community education, multi-sectoral working groups, and integrating feedback from individuals with disabilities in emergency planning but also broadly for development/infrastructure planning. • Collaboration: Stressed the importance of cooperation between international organizations, local governments, and NGOs to ensure the protection and resilience of vulnerable groups, particularly individuals with disabilities, before, during and after disasters.
Organized by: GFDRR/World Bank and Japan National Assembly of Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI-Japan)
