Inclusive preparedness : Intellectual disability and disaster risk reduction

This licentiate dissertation emerges at the crossroads of critical disability studies and critical disasterstudies, with a commitment to justice, equality, and accessibility within the realm of disaster risk reduction(DRR). Its purpose was to develop new insights into strengthening crisis preparedness by activelyinvolving and including people with intellectual disabilities, leveraging their own knowledge andexperience. This work rests upon three components: a systematic literature review that explored methodsfor inclusion of people with disabilities (PWD) into DRR, a disability-inclusive workshop conducted in amunicipality in Sweden, and an interview study exploring the family perspective of crisis planning whena member of the family has a disability. The systematic literature review survey’s methodologiesemployed globally in disability inclusive DRR, included workshops, co-designing tools, role-playing,photovoice, and other inclusive practices. By searching the global landscape, this study highlighted thesignificance of these methodologies toward achieving disability-inclusive DRR. The second componentof this research is an account of a disability-inclusive workshop, strategically designed to centre disabledvoices and involve different stakeholders. The study involved a workshop in collaboration with disabilitysupport services at a municipality in Sweden. The workshop brought together crisis communicators,managers for group homes for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), representatives from disabilityorganizations and PWD of different kinds. To link these two papers, a third study was added to underpinthe importance of a family perspective on crisis planning. The family-centred study explored the livedexperience of families with a member with disability, highlighting the challenges when it comes toaccessibility, technology dependence and information gaps while emphasizing the importance ofinclusive, community-supported disaster preparedness initiatives. The overall results showed fivedimensions of DRR for people with ID. The first dimension focused on the need to address systemicvulnerabilities that prevent inclusive crisis planning, emphasizing the importance of long-term solutionsrather than short term responses. Dimension two points to the value of collaboration and activeparticipation, illustrating how engaging PWD and their support networks enhances preparedness andempowers individuals. Dimension three explored the role of families in bridging gaps to those not closelyconnected to formal services. Dimension four examined the accessibility challenges PWD faces,revealing the need for tailored information and practices to overcome physical and informational barriers.Finally, dimension five emphasized the importance of community-based solutions and informal networks,which can provide practical resources and support in crisis situations. Together, these dimensionsadvocate for a more inclusive approach to DRR that recognizes both the unique needs and thecontributions of PWD.