Mainstreaming Disability or PwDs into Disaster Risk Reduction

Presentation by:

Islam Bahadar

Master Trainer,

Disaster Preparedness & Capacity Building Project

Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme

(CAMP)

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Definition & types of disability.

Mainstreaming & the inclusion of disability into DRR.

Why to include disability into DRR.

Principals of inclusion.

Disability model.

Approach to mainstreaming disability into DRR.

Steps to successful mainstreaming.

At which level can disability be mainstreamed.

Disability inclusive DRR model.

Monitoring the quality of disability inclusive DRR process.

Related example.

Conclusion.

Presentation includes

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In the medical context, “individuals with certain physical,

intellectual, psychological and mental conditions (impairment)

are regarded as pathologic or abnormal; it is simply the

abnormality conditions themselves that are the cause of all

restrictions of activities”.

According to the medical model definition , disability lies in the

individual, as it is associated with those restrictions which limited

the individual ability to a specific activity or function.

1- Definition & types of Disability or

Person with Disability (PwDs)

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In the social context “the disability may be defined as the

ability or inability of individual to carry out basic actions at the

level of whole person (i.e. walking, climbing stairs, lifting

packages, seeing a friend across the room etc.)”.

According to the social model definition, disability does not lie in

individuals, but in the interactions between individuals and society.

Note: In common parlance, different terms such as disabled,

handicapped, crippled, physically challenged, are used inter-

changeably to denote disability.

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Types of Disabilities

Based on the social consequences, three types.

1) Mental disabilities 2) Physical disabilities 3) Learning disabilities

1) Mental Disabilities:

It is further classified into two types.

a- Intellectual disabilities: Mental retardation can be present

immediately during the mental development of the child or occur

following a secondary deterioration (severe epilepsy, mental illness..).

b- Psychiatric disabilities: These disorders concern mainly social

relationships, communication and behavior such as autism and

childhood psychosis.

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2) Physical Disabilities:

These are also classified into two sub-types

a- Motor disabilities: These disordered are associated with various

movement of body organs like, the spinal cord injuries cause

according to their location paralysis of lower limbs (paraplegia) or all

four limbs (quadriplegia).

b- Sensory disabilities: These disabilities are very common (the

visually impaired and hearing impaired). Hearing impairment is less

visible but very heavy to deal with.

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3) Learning Disabilities:

Learning disabilities are specific cognitive function without being

associated with mental disability. They are very different like,

Language disorders: dysphasia

Spelling disorder: dysorthographia

Memory disorder

Reading disorder: dyslexia

Disorder of visual perception

Movement disorder

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Mainstreaming:

A process of bringing the marginalized groups/issues into the core

activity or action. After being mainstreamed, the marginalized

groups / issues should be able to participate on an equal basis in the

core activity or action.

Mainstreaming in the context of Disability into DRR:

An approach to include a specific issue (disability into DRM) in the

different aspects (social, legal, political, economic) of an organisation

system (community, country, NGOs).

2- Mainstreaming and the inclusion

of Disability into DRR

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Inclusion Of Disability into DRR:

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(CRPD), in its articles 11 and 322, requires that persons with

disabilities benefit from and participate in disaster relief, emergency

response and disaster risk reduction strategies.

Bewako Millennium Framework (2002) Strategy 23:

Disability inclusive disaster management should be promoted.

Disability perspective should be included in the policies and practices

in the area, including HFA.

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1) Discrimination and barriers: Nature does not dictate that

persons with disabilities should be first to die during disaster.

Gender based discrimination and social and environmental

barriers their vulnerabilities.

2) Disability and poverty: Poverty is both cause and

consequences of disability and vice - versa. Persons with

disabilities and women, being poor, live in the area which is

exposed to hazards in poor quality shelters, have less capacities

to cope with disasters.

3- Why to Include Disability into DRR?

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3) Disability and disasters: Persons with disabilities are more

vulnerable in disasters due to their impairment, existing barriers

and their socio-economic situation.

4) Disasters create new impairments / disability.

5) Persons with disabilities tend to be invisible in disasters.

6) Exclusion of persons with disabilities in DRR interventions is

putting new barriers for them and not letting them participate in

development processes.

7) Human rights are universal, indivisible and equal for all. Persons

with disabilities have the same human rights as anyone else.

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REPRESENTATION & PARTICIPATION for an inclusive

DECISION-MAKING:

In First Preparedness Meeting Participation

In District Disaster Relief Committee

In VDC level Flood Response Committees

Disabled concern groups

Women’s associations

HIV/AIDS support groups

Youth clubs

Specific social groups associations 2

4- Principal of Inclusion,

1st Principal of Inclusion

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DISAGGREGATED DATA BY SEX, AGE AND SPECIFIC

CONDITION:

In district reports

In district demographic information

In community mapping, etc.

2nd Principle of inclusion

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INFORMATION TO ALL:

Public Information Campaign: if we want to reach ALL the

public, messages may need to be passed in more than a single

way to reach children, persons with hearing, visual or intellectual

impairments, using diverse channels by representative civil

society groups: HIV/AIDS support groups,

Disabled Concern Groups, Women’s

Associations etc.

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3rd Principle of inclusion

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IDENTIFICATION AND ADDRESS OF SPECIFIC NEEDS:

In identification of shelter/assistive devices

In the study of needs assessment and analysis

In preparedness, response mechanism

4th Principle of inclusion

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5- Disability Model

Charity

Model

Medical

Model

Social

Model

Right Based

Model

Early-20th

Century Mid-20th Century Late- 20th Century 21st Century

PwDs seen as

suffering people

to be cared for.

Disability seen as direct

result of personal

impairment problem of

the individual directly

caused by the disease,

trauma or other health

conditions.

Disability seen as the

result of limitation

imposed by the

environmental barriers.

The problem is place

on discrimination and

exclusion coming

from the society.

Disability seen as

denial of human

rights. Unequal

opportunity to

participate in the

society and unequal

access to service.

Whatever is

done for PwDs

is done out by

charity.

Solutions are designed

by the medical experts

on the basis of medical

diagnosis.

Removal of barriers

linked to physical,

attitudinal, information’s

and communication.

Empowered of PwDs

and to guarantee

their rights to equal &

active participation in

socio-economic,

cultural & political

activities and equal

access to services. 16

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Model Charity Model

Medical Model

Social Model

Right based Model

Dignity Low

High

Dependency High

Low

Sustainability Low

High

Inclusion Low

High

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6- Approach to Mainstreaming

Disability into DRR

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Effective Approach to Mainstream

Disabilities

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7- Steps to Successful

Mainstreaming

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8- At which level can Disability

be Mainstreamed

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9- Disability Inclusive

DRR Model

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10- Monitoring the Quality of

Disability Inclusive DRR Process

Parameters

Indicators

Access Accessibility of physical structures, equal access to service, to

resources, to information.

Communication Two way communications, opportunity to communicate their

needs / feelings, alternative forms of key information, modified

communication tools, extra time.

Attitudes Recognizing equal rights, changed attitudes to welcome,

focus on the abilities and capacities, respectful language,

success stories to empower them.

Participations

Hold at least 10 % decision making position, they are consulted,

informed, asked, and valued.

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11- Example: DRR Inclusive

services in Pakistan

During the rescue and rehabilitation phases following the 2010

Pakistan floods, STEP (a Disabled People’s Organisation in

Pakistan) knew that marginalized groups, such as persons with

disabilities and elderly, would beat greater risk of neglect.

In response to this, STEP established the Information Resource

Center on Disability as a point for information sharing and

dissemination for the two districts of Nowshera and Charsaddah.

The Information Resource Center on Disability comprises a

computerised database on persons with disabilities, which is

connected to STEP’s online web portal and linked with the central

crisis centre of the Red Crescent Society of Pakistan.

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The database includes their national identity card number and

can also provide a detailed profile, including the nature of their

disability and their location.

The use of this database has proved very helpful & successful

for identification of persons with disabilities and in providing a

coordinated service for disseminating information to these

people and their families regarding food distribution

systems, medical outreach services, distribution of cash

and food grants, cash-for-work programmes suitable for

persons with disabilities and so on.

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12- Conclusion

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