Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk ReductionRecommendations for Integrating the Preparedness,

Response, Recovery and Mitigation Needs of the Whole Community

July, 2013

“FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve  our capacity to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”

Mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Provide guidance, tools, methods and strategies to integrate and coordinate emergency management inclusive of individuals with access and functional needs in accordance with Federal civil rights laws and regulations.

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination

Mission Statement

Assets Not Liabilities

Promising Practices in Inclusive Preparednesswww.fema.gov/about/odic

Key Principles of US Disability Rights andNon Discrimination Laws that Apply inEmergency Programs:

• Equal Access• Physical Access• Access to Effective Communication• Inclusion• Integration• Program Modifications• No Charge

Key Principles for Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

•FUNDAMENTAL INTEGRATION. Focus on integration and coordination of persons with access and functional needs into every aspect of risk reduction, emergency preparedness and disaster response, recovery and mitigation.

•WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH. Utilize a “Whole Community” approach that engages individuals and communities in all planning and implementation of physical, programmatic and effective communication access.

•NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US. Persons with disabilities and others with access and functional needs are involved and empowered, fully engaged in whole spectrum of activities, leading change and reducing stigma (they become “force multipliers”).

•SUSTAINABILITY & UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY. Help communities be more sustainable through development, inventory and sharing of resources, programs and promising practices for disability-inclusive risk reduction, emergency preparedness and disaster response and recovery. Includes promotion of universal accessibility in planning, preparation, response and recovery / reconstruction.

• Fundamental integration• Whole community approach• Nothing about us, without us• Accessible ICT innovation• Sustainability & universal accessibility• Resilience

United Nations Expert Group Meeting Building Inclusive Society and DevelopmentTokyo, Japan, 19-21 April 2012

Key Principles for Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

Disability Stakeholder Consultation Meeting OutcomeMay, 2013

• HFA2 should recognize the cross-cutting issue of disability-inclusion and all stakeholders should take appropriate action to respond to the disproportionate impact that disasters have on persons with disabilities.

• HFA2 should address the significance of investing in disability-inclusive DRR to minimize human and economic loss, safeguard development gains and promote sustainable solutions benefiting all communities.

• HFA2 should ensure the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities, their families, representative organizations of persons with disabilities and all DRR stakeholders at all levels within DRR policy and practice. Such participation, and universal accessibility, is best ensured by mobilizing the expertise and strengths of persons with disabilities themselves.

Summary of Disability Stakeholder RecommendationsGlobal Platform, May, 2013

• Full and effective participation of persons with disabilities and DPOs in DRR planning at all stages and at all levels.

• Universal Accessibility is pre-condition for effective participation of persons with disabilities

• Whole community approach – DRR for All• Gender sensitive Disability Inclusion to be considered. (Gender and

Disability are both cross-cutting issue and interlink each other)

U.S Department of Homeland SecurityFederal Emergency Management Agency

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination Marcie Roth, Director

marcie.roth@fema.dhs.gov202.212.1537

www.fema.gov/about/odic