1. TRAINING WORKSHOP ON
DISABILITY INCLUSIVE DISASTER
RISK REDUCTION
We know from many tragedies that without careful
planning and foresight, disability can be a
determinant factor between life and death in a
disaster situation.
Ephraim Chifamba (PhD)
LAW SCHOOL SCHOOL OF EDUCATION SCHOOL OF MEDICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES WIFI HOTSPOT
INNOVATION HUB
3. ACRONYMS
CEDAW Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
CHS Core Humanitarian Standards
DIMS Disaster Information Management Systems
DRM Disaster Risk Management
DiDRR Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction
DRR Disaster Risk Reduction
EWS Early Warning Systems
VCA Vulnerability & Capacity Assessment
4. PRESENTATION OUTLINE (DAY 2 & 3)
• Workshop objectives
• Workshop methodologies
• Conceptualisation of terms
• Disability & disaster management
• Geographical information systems (GIS) in disaster Cycle
• Experiences with disability in disaster situation
• Mainstreaming disability into DRR (Practical
Recommendations)
5. PRESENTATION OUTLINE (DAY 2 & 3) Conti..
• Guidelines for identifying persons with disability in disaster situation
• Communication guidelines for awareness raising & education
• VCA
• Disability inclusive early warning systems (EWSs)
• Search, rescue & evaluation
• Shelter management
• Making Information, Education & Communication material Disability
Inclusive.
• Networking- Referencing PWD to Specialist services
6. DiDRR WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
• Understand the conceptual issues around Disability & DRR
• Appreciate specific needs of persons with disability.
• Direct actions in accordance with DiDRR frameworks
• Understand why it is essential to include disability in DRR.
• Be equipped with practical guidelines and recommendations on
promoting inclusive DRR
• Understand the difference between mainstream and specialist
services.
7. METHODOLOGY
• Introduction of key concepts of the sessions through power-
point presentations.
• Group discussions
• Group work & Presentations, simulation exercises , interactive
games
• Summarising the key take away points
8. DEFINITION OF TERMS
• A disaster: a culmination of risks causing widespread negative consequences
.
• Disasters are inevitable but their impacts can be reduced.
• DRM: Involves the use of administrative decisions, operational skills and
capacities to reduce the impact disasters.
• DRR include the following:
a) Risk awareness and assessment, (hazard analysis and vulnerability/capacity
analysis);
b) Knowledge development, education, training, research and information;
c) Public commitment, institutional frameworks & community action;
d) Early warning systems, (forecasting, dissemination of EWSs, preparedness
measures and reaction capacities).
9. DEFINITION OF TERMS Cont...
• Disaster preparedness- Enhancement in knowledge, capacity
and confidence to protect lives and people.
• Disaster response: Action undertaken to rescue people and
their belongings. The process includes:
a) Short term relief support to prevent loss of lives and assets.
b) Protection of the dignity of affected people from any cruel,
inhumane treatment or abuse.
c) To provide recovery (rehabilitation and reconstruction)
support.
11. WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF DIDRR?
• Most DRR programs disregard inclusion.
• Absence of disability disaggregate data.
• Lack of meaningful participation
• Reduce (avoid, if possible) the potential losses from hazards
among vulnerable groups.
• Assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims when
necessary.
• Achieve rapid and durable recovery.
12. THE CONCEPT OF INCLUSION IN DRR
EMPOWERMENT &
CAPACITY BUILDING
(PSA)
EFFECTIVE
PARTICIPATION
delegation
participation
informing
Consultation
Therapy
Manipulation .
INCLUSION
INCLUSIVE
DRR
NOTES:
1. 15 % PWD
2. 25 % Caregivers
14. WHEN IS AN EVENT A DISASTER?
• At least 20% of the population are affected and in need of
emergency assistance (UN Habitat, 2022).
• A great number or at least 40% of the means of livelihood are
destroyed.
• When major roads and bridges are destroyed and impassable for at
least a week
• Widespread destruction of crops and agricultural activities
• Epidemics
• When it overwhelms the capacity of the local response to manage it
effectively.
15. DISASTERS & DISABILITY
• PWDs are more vulnerable in a disaster situation due to various reasons,
including:
a) PWDs are often part of the poorest groups of people.
b) The impairments that a PWD has.
c) Tendency to be invisible during disaster and hence often overlooked. –
Japan Earthquake-2011
d) Marginalization and discrimination (World Disasters Report, 2007).
e) Disaster situations create new impairments and new disabilities:
Pakistan earthquake (2005)
• PWDs are left out or abandoned during disasters. 143 Disabled chn in
Indonesia
• Elderly drowned in their wheal chairs in St Rita Nursing Hm (Katrina)
16. DISASTERS & DISABILITY cont...
• Disabled persons are not reached in time by EWS- Haiti-2011.
• 71 % of PWDs do not have individual preparedness plan.
• Without communication support warning systems, evacuation
fails. Cont
• Lack of funding inhibit progress in DiDRR programs.
• Staff lack practical knowledge for implementing of DiDRR.
• Demand driven vs Donor Driven. Inclusion reduce vulnerability.
• Relevance of mainstreaming disability in DRR initiatives.
17. DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
Phases In The Disaster Management Cycle
a) Disaster phase- Profound damage to the human society.
• Link between disability and poverty.
• PWDs are more vulnerable in disasters due to their impairment.
• PWDs tend to be invisible in disasters.
• Aid often focuses on people that became impaired through the
disaster, neglecting people already impaired previous to it.
18. DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE Conti…
b) Response phase – Measures aimed at reducing immediate
losses
• Asses the needs, reduce suffering , limit the spread of disaster,
open the way to rehabilitation
• Measures usually taken at individual and community level until
exterior aid arrives.
• Refer PWDs for specialized services.
c) Recovery phase -Social, economic and psychological
rehabilitation
• Specialized services for PWDs are provided where needed
19. DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE Conti…
d) Risk reduction/ mitigation phase-Long term measures
• Assistive devices, Information leaflets in Braille, Sign language
for EWSs
• Promote the equal and active participation of people with
disabilities;
• Include PWDs in vulnerability and capacity assessments,
contingency planning, task force, DRR committees, etc..
• Lobby upon other actors to make DRR disability-inclusive.
20. DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE Conti…
Preparedness phase
• It involves planning, advocacy, education & training & resource
mobilization
• Development of awareness and knowledge among the population
• Remove barriers for PWDs in the society.
• Eliminate barriers in the physical environment
• Reduce attitudinal barriers
• Enhance knowledge on how to work with PWDs
• Ensure inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction strategies
21. GROUP DISUSSIONS
GROUP 1.
a) State any disasters and hazards that have affected Zimbabwe since
1980? (5min)
b) Identify the disasters that you have come across as an organisation (5
min)
c) What steps have been adopted to solve the disasters? (5 min)
GROUP 2.
a) Brainstorm on likely disasters in your project area (10 min)
b) List possible impacts of the disasters identified on:
i. Community life (5 min)
ii. Life of individuals (5 min)
22. THE SENDAI FRAMEWORK for DRR & PWD
• 2015 World conference recommended targets towards
disability-accessible & inclusive environment.
• At the venue conference session were accessible by PWD
• Sign language interpretation was available on demand.
• Venues provided wheel chairs accessible transportation.
• Over 200 PWD participated at the conference.
• The inclusion of Di related terms like accessibility, inclusion &
universal design was significant.
• SFDRR firmly established PWD & their advocacy organisations
as actors in the design of DRR policies
23. HOW SENDAI INCLUDE PWDs
• Direct mention of PWD appear in the preamble (Para 7-page 5)-
a people centered-preventive approach to DR.
• Emphasise states to engage PWDs, women & chn (Pg 5).
• Reference to PWD is also given in Para 7(Design &
implementation of plans, policies & standards.
• Paragraph 7 contains disability related constructs-inclusive &
accessibility
• Accessibility relevant in housing, education, employment ..
• Inclusion has assimilated PWD in workplace, education …
• Paragraph 7 stresses the importance of collaboration
24. SENDAI: PRIORITIES FOR ACTION
• SFDRR (para 28(b) emphasises on the principles of universal
design.
• Para 30j (Priority 3 ) inclusive policies, social-nets, basic health
etc.
• Para 30K ‘People with life threatening… should be included in
the design of policies, plans and manage their risks…’
• Priority 4 mentions how to ‘Build Back Better’.
• Reconstruction involves socio-eco, cultural reconstruction
25. SENDAI: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE
• It is not a toolbox for concrete practice.
• An examination of practices among signatories is overdue.
• Policies are not always followed through & practiced at local
level.
• The SFDRR does not address funding or resources
required to address the framework’s priorities.
• Does not mention participation from the private players.
• It is important to continue promoting participation of PWD
26. DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT.
• The capacity to collect, analyze and predict immediate needs after
disasters determine how an institution quickly respond to disasters.
• The tapping of resources from other development partners for carrying out
such assessments is critical.
• The tools used for disaster needs assessment are
a) Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA) (carried out within 24 hours of disasters)
b) Multi-cluster Initial Rapid Assessment (between 7-15 days)
c) Cluster Specified Detailed Assessment (within 45 days if necessary)
d) Post Disaster Needs Assessment (after 45 days for very large scale
impact of disasters)
27. Di HVCA
• Collecting & analyzing information provided by community &
PWD on:
a) Dangers that threaten lives, properties and livelihoods of
human beings
b) Weaknesses & strengths of community
• Physical vulnerabilities and capacities:
• Social vulnerabilities and capacities: Relations
• Motivational/attitudinal vulnerabilities and capacities:
beliefs about disability. Individual previous experience of
disasters e.t.c.
28. VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT
• Types of vulnerabilities and capacities (PSA)
• VCA can be seen as the entry point into DRR.
• Vulnerability: is the extent to which a community is likely to be
damaged or disrupted by a hazard.
• Capacity: is a set of positive conditions or abilities.
• VCA map vulnerable communities as well as their capacities.
• There is a legal obligation for any nation that has ratified the
CRPD.
29. WHY SHOULD VCA INCLUDE PWD
• If PWD are not included in the VCA, there is a high risk they
won't be included in all the subsequent steps.
• By including PWDs in VCA means they will require less
assistance and attention during disaster.
• PWDs have a lot of capacities and can be at the service of a
community.
• eg know best about the needs of other persons with disabilities
and can therefore help in planning effective action.
30. INCLUDING PWD IN MAPPING
Related to impairment:
• Identify the total number of persons with disabilities.
• Identify prevalent types of impairments
• Map the most vulnerable households with PWDs
31. INCLUDING PWD IN MAPPING
• Related to services
• Identify schemes and benefits available (You should have this
information).
• Map existing rehabilitation services including: doctors. primary health
centres. hospitals.
• Map actors providing rehabilitation and disability services including
• Identify PWDs with previous experience who can support other
PWDs (peer support).
• Identify support persons: e.g sign language interpreters.
• Identify how PWDs can access services.
32. INCLUDING PWD IN MAPPING
Related to physical environment and transportation systems
• Assess the physical accessibility of existing key infrastructure
• Map particular routes that PWD would need to use to move to
shelters or any safe places.
• How can they be made reasonably safe and accessible?
• Map routes which are likely to be usable by PWDs
• Will PWDs be able to use these options?
• Mapping services and accessible infrastructure should benefit
the other groups
33. VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT
Group 1:
• What are the critical steps in conducting VCA?
Group 2:
• How do you including persons with disabilities in mapping exercises?
Group 3
• Why is it necessary to make sure that VCA includes people with
disability?
• Group 4
• Identify potential vulnerabilities and capacities specific to PWDs
(PSA)
34. DISASTER RESPONSE & RELIEF
dRisk assessment Prevention
Response Relief
Preparednes
s
Hazard
assessment
Vulnerability
assessment
structural
measures
Non-structural
measures
Contingency
planning
Warning &
Evacuatio
n
Relief Rehab Recon...
Search & rescue
Security
Food shelter, health care,
water
35. DiDRR EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS (EWSs)
• Community-based (EWS) are often not disability-friendly.
• A system based on audio messages (e.g. loud speakers) for
instance will not reach deaf persons.
• EWSs usually reach persons with disability too late or not at all.
• PWDs should receive EW in a timely manner.
• A good needs assessment & mapping of PWDs is essential for
inclusive DRR.
• An effective EWS should provide information and state who is
responsible.
36. WHY DO WE NEED EWSs?
• EWSs save lives, reduce injuries and provide efficient and controlled
evacuations.
• EWSs allow PWDs to take appropriate actions in a timely fashion.
• The information collected when preparing EWSs helps rescue
workers to identify and search for people.
Things to consider:
• Not all EWSs are inclusive to everybody and all locations. (Eg. A
siren ).
• Understand the purpose & action to take if EWSs are circulated.
• EWSs need to be clear, simple and easy for everybody to
understand
37. HOW CAN EWSs BE DISABILITY INCLUSIVE?
• Identify people with disabilities in your working area.
• Make sure that the EWSs include PWDs.
• EWSs should be developed with the participation of PWDs.
• PWDs should be included in awareness activities and
emergency drills.
• Find out what EWSs exist in the community & inform PWDs and
their family about these.
• Help PWDs and their family to develop an emergency plan
• Community disaster teams, should have adequate EWS
information.
38. CRPD (ART:21) & EWSs
• CRPD addresses access to information.
• Compels states to:
a) Provide information to persons with disabilities in accessible
formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of
disabilities in a timely manner.
b) Facilitate the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and
alternative communication.
c) Encourage the mass media to make their services accessible
to PWDs
39. KEY MESSAGES ON DiEWS
• Disability-inclusive EWS need to be developed with support of
PWDs
• Early warning task forces as well as the community need to be
trained using EWS
• Persons with disability must whenever possible participate in
trainings.
• Based on VCA, inform selected PWDs on a priority basis.
• Provide theoretical and practical training on disability-inclusive
EWS for your organisation's staff.
40. DISABILITY INCLUSIVE EWSs (GRP DISC )
Group 1.
a) What methods do you use to warm PWDs?
b) Are there any limitations in this system in terms of
ensuring that people with disabilities can be reached
through it?
c) What do you need to do so that the system reaches
people with disabilities?
d) What sort of system could you use to do this?
41. GROUP DISCUSSION
Group 2
a) How does an EWS work?
b) Why do we need EWSs and why should they be disability
inclusive?
c) How can EWSs be made inclusive?
42. CBDP
• Occurs when DP is initiated and undertaken at the local
level for long term & sustained impact.
• Making PWDs aware and prepared to prevent disasters
is critical for creating resilience
• The goal is to improve the quality of life.
• It involves pre-disaster activities and measures
• CBDP emphasises on collective community action
• Both internal & external resource mobilisation are
critical.
43. ESSENTIALITY OF CBDP
• Disasters are sometimes localised.
• DRR & Development by us with us.
• Constrains & opportunities are understood better by
local communities.
• The first & quickest response comes from the people.
• Localisation of DRR in terms of language & culture.
• Ownership of interventions.
44. THE CBDP PROCESS
• Coordinate with provincial government agencies & dpts
• Facilitate formation of inclusive community teams.
• Strengthen local capacities by providing CBDP.
• Conduct awareness & DRR sensitization programs
• Facilitate stakeholder gathering disaster related data
using PRA tools & methodologies.
45. THE CBDP PROCESS - Conti…
• Develop a community DRR plan.
• Prioritise identified activities and projects.
• Mobilize external stakeholders.
• Monitor implementation of activities and programs.
• Conduct periodic evaluations.
• Carry out hazard mapping.
• Determine the preparedness to be taken.
46. CBDP ACTION PLANNING
• Planning activities under CBDP should include:
a) EWSs
b) Public awareness on disability issues
c) Planning
d) Emergence health care
e) Training
f) Search & rescue
g) Damage & needs assessment
h) Evacuation preparedness
48. COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES FOR PWDs
Group Discussion
• What methods do you use in your education/awareness
raising? List FIVE methods.
• Do these activities have any limitations in terms of ensuring that
persons with disabilities can take part?
• What do you need to do so that persons with disabilities can
take part in education/awareness raising?
• How could you do this?
49. BASIC GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSIBILITY
Interactive Discussions
• What are the general guidelines for accessibility features
relevant for DRR activities?
• Does anyone have any experience of modifying an environment
to improve accessibility?
• If so, what did you do?
• How successful was it?
• Did you have any problems?
50. DISABILITY INCLUSIVE IEC MATERIAL
Group work.
NB: Divide participants into separate groups according to their
affiliation
• What information, education and communication (IEC) materials is
your organisation currently using?
• What measures are in place to promote disability-inclusive IEC
materials for DRR within your programming?
• What challenges are faced in designing inclusive information,
education and communication (IEC) materials
• What strategies can be adopted to insure inclusive IEC?
51. SEARCH, RESCUE & EVALUATION (SRE)
• PWDs tend to be invisible during disasters and are therefore easily
overlooked.
• This applies especially, if family members or care takers are lost or injured.
• Actors often focus on people newly injured.
• PWDs are at higher risk of being injured, trapped or stuck because of their
often reduced capacity to anticipate and react.
• Search and rescue teams are often ill equipped to deal with PWDs:
• Rescuers may bring PWDs to already overloaded hospitals, although the
persons may not have new injury.
52. GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Group 1
a) What general problems do people with disabilities encounter
in search, rescue, and evacuation?
Group 2
a) What measures could be taken to ensure people with
disabilities are effectively included in search, rescue and
evacuation activities?
53. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
• A proper mapping of PWDs in the preparedness phase will be of great
help for SRE teams.
• Include PWDs in SRE mock drills, so they know what an evacuation is,
what are SRE teams, where the safe haven or the shelter is.
• Also include family members andcare takers.
• Always bring someone who knows the PWD or is familiar with working with
PWDs
• Ideally, each SRE team would include at least one person knowledgeable
in disability issues.
• Wherever possible take the time to ask the PWD what assistance they
require.
54. SHELTER MANAGEMENT
• PWDs face barriers when trying to access a shelter.
• Most of the shelters are not physically accessible for PWDs.
• A man with a hearing impairment was denied admission to an emergency
shelter because the staff could not understand sign language.
• Once in the shelter, barriers of all types hinder access of PWDs to services
• Disrupted family and society patterns, unstructured environment and
changed ethical value systems may cause abuse.
• The changed environment may also considerably decrease their level of
autonomy and their usual protection mechanisms.
• Women and children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable.
55. GROUP WORK
1. What general problems do people with disabilities encounter in
shelters? Analyze related to:
a) Physical environment
b) Information and communication
c) Food security
d) Water and sanitation
e) General security
2. What measures could be taken to facilitate people with disabilities'
life and access related to mentioned components in shelters?
56. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
• Design shelters so that PWDs can move to them from their
homes/communities
• PWDs should be able to move inside the shelter
• Trial it through mock drills!
• Make sure that PWDs participate in shelter design.
• Include PWDs in shelter management committees.
• Raise awareness about disability in the community.
• Greater awareness mean less discrimination.
• Identify capacities of individual PWDs to deal with life in shelters and
camps.
57. REFERRING PWD TO SPECIALIST SERVICES
Group work
Group 1.
• What is a “referral” and when is it done?
Group 2.
• What are some of the specialist services available to PWDs in
Zimbabwe.
Group 3.
• What is needed for an effective referral system?
58. ACTION POINTS FOR DiDRR
• Ensure that PWDs have a seat at the table.
• Remove barriers to full participation of PWDs.
• Increase awareness among stakeholders. Awareness about
vulnerabilities of PWDs is limited among stakeholders
• Collect data that is inclusive of PWDs: Statistics disaggregated by
disability is absent.
• ‘Build back better’ by improving accessibility for PWDs.
• Enable full participation of PWDs and their families as active
stakeholders and advisors.
• Guarantee full accessibility for PWDs and their families to
information and services in pre and post disaster situations.
59. ACTION POINTS FOR DiDRR Conti...
• Lobby the government action plans for inclusion of disability in
disaster response.
• Define and learn from “best practices” of disability-inclusive
disaster response.
• Adapt existing disaster response guidelines to include criteria
and practical indicators for inclusion of disability issues.
• Establish (self-)evaluation mechanisms to monitor and improve
the quality of inclusion measures in disaster response.
60. CRITICAL CONCERN
• Does your organisation have an existing disaster response
team?
• If yes, is it functional?
• Do you have emergency response plan?
• Does your organisation have personnel trained in DRR
61. REFERENCES
• Global Partnership for Disability and Development, Haiti: Reconstruction for All
(2010). Available from http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/disability-and-
developmentnetwork/document/haiti-toolkit-long-term-recovery-introduction
• Japan Disability Forum, What is behind the higher death rate of persons
withdisabilities? (Tokyo, 2013). Available from
www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/twg/escap_121031/fujii.html
• United Nations. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai,
2015).Available from
www.un.org/disabilities/documents/desa/3WCDRR/Sendai_2015-2030.pdf .
• UNISDR. Key Findings: 2013 Survey on Living with Disabilities and Disasters.
ExecutiveSummary. Available from
www.unisdr.org/2014/iddr/documents/2013DisabilitySurveryReport_0307 14.pdf
.
62. THE END
• Eventually, taking into consideration PWDs as human beings
with the identical rights and wants and with unambiguous
capacities and assets will build an environment favorable to
disability-inclusive DRR, without inequity, intolerance and with
full dignity for all. Ephraim Chifamba (2022)
• THANK YOU
