People with disabilities are disproportionately affected throughout the planning, response, and recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters. Research shows that people with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely than people without disabilities to die or to be injured in disasters, natural or man-made, such as war. Some of the barriers that have been reported include the following: access to humanitarian aid, accessible shelter, access to durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, as well as accessible communication. A whole community approach to emergency management addresses the need for proactive engagement, evaluation of current processes, and advocating for a shift in behavior contingencies at the individual and cultural levels. This presentation will offer a behavior analytic perspective on whole community inclusive planning and recovery by shaping new behavior contingencies involving individuals and the environment.
Learning Objectives:
• Operationally define whole community inclusive planning
• Define the three principles and six strategic themes of a whole community approach
• Identify potential barriers to a successful and inclusive emergency management response and recovery
• Identify proactive and reactive strategies and sustainable solutions