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disabilities and their representative organizations must participate in all programs designed to
reach affected populations in times of crisis.
exerCise 5.4: people with disabilities in situations of risk
Objective: To consider the needs of persons with disabilities in natural disasters and identify
strategies to enhance the protection of people with disabilities in emergency
preparedness
time: 45 minutes
materials: Chart paper and markers or blackboard and chalk (optional)
1. brainstorm:
Ask participants to identify natural disasters that can take place in their community (e.g.,
blizzard, tornado, hurricane, earthquake). List these. Ask the group to create three profiles
of people with disabilities in their communities. Encourage diverse profiles, including different
ages, disabilities (including psycho-social disability), ethnic minority status, and living
arrangements (e.g., living alone, in an institution, with family). Collect the profiles and select a
diverse sample to use in role plays.
2. imagine:
Divide participants into small groups and give each group a profile with these instructions: Your
group is going to role play what might happen in a typical natural disaster.
• Choose one of the typical disasters identified in Step 1 to role play using the profile
you have received. What really happens in your community in these crises (e.g., loss
of electricity, gas or water, loss of most forms of communication, loss of assistance
devices such as artificial limbs, crutches, hearing aids, eye glasses, loss of means of
transportation, inability to meet basic needs such as food, water, shelter, latrines, and
health care services)?
• One person should play the person with disability and others should develop support
(or non-support) roles (e.g., family member, neighbor, police, relief worker, medical
personnel).
• You may choose to role play a worst-case scenario, a best-case scenario, or both.
3. present:
Ask each group to present its role play. Afterward, form a panel of those who took the role of the
person with disability and “interview” them about their experiences.
• What kinds of responses were or would have been helpful in this situation?
• What kinds of responses were or would have been unhelpful?
4. discuss:
Emphasize that although people with disabilities have a human right to life and that States
must take specific measures to ensure their protection and safety in emergencies, the needs of
people with disabilities are often overlooked in real crises or situations of armed conflict.
• What can be done to ensure protection of this right?
• Who is responsible to see that this protection is provided?
• Does your community have a disaster preparedness plan?
• Does it include such protections? What can you do to help first responders and aid
workers to better include disability issues in their work?
• Optional: Have each group present a disaster preparedness plan that takes into
account the needs of persons with disabilities or a checklist of tips for humanitarian
80 human rights. yes! aCtiOn and adVOCaCy On the rights Of persOns with disabilities