People with disabilities share inclusion 'tips and tricks'
World Vision Solomon Islands is working as part of Disaster READY to build disaster preparedness all the way from national to community level. At the national level this involves partnering with the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) to strengthen the national disaster early warning system. At the community level it is about being on the ground implementing community-based disaster preparedness plans in Makira Province.
People with disabilities can be disproportionately affected by disasters, and need to be part of disaster preparedness efforts. Building the disability inclusion capacity of project staff and implementing partners like SIMS and the National Disaster Management Office is a key priority within the Disaster READY program.
Learning from those who know
Above: Participants at a joint PWDSI-CBM disability inclusion training in Honiara Image:: Liz Morgan / CBM Australia
World Vision Solomon Islands wanted staff and partners to learn about disability inclusion directly from the experts – people with disabilities themselves. Disaster READY looked to the national disabled person’s organisation in the Solomon Islands - People With Disabilities Solomon Islands (PWDSI) for support. Together with CBM Australia, PWDSI facilitated a two-day training workshop aimed at sharing practical strategies for more inclusive disaster preparedness.
All Disaster READY Solomon Islands partners were invited to attend the training, with a total of 35 people joining. A panel of four people with disabilities - three men and one woman – shared insights into how and why people with disabilities need to be better included in disaster preparedness and response efforts.
Two of the panel members were wheelchair users, one was a deaf person who communicated in sign language, and one had multiple impairments including physical and communication impairments. A sign language interpreter was present throughout the two days of the training, which was a great way to see just what it takes for communication to be accessible and inclusive.
The panel members shared powerful and moving stories. One member had experienced flash flooding and watched their wheelchair be washed away. An emergency response assessment team visited his house and he informed them of a need for a replacement wheelchair, but it never arrived. Four weeks later he approached PWDSI to help him get a new chair.
Another panel member recounted the day a tsunami warning was sounded in Honiara, but she and her friends with disabilities were unable to evacuate to higher ground. Luckily a tsunami did not come, but the experience prompted her to carry a ‘grab bag’ with her at all times.
Better understanding leads to more inclusive preparedness
After hearing these experiences, the training participants were motivated to do more to make sure people with disabilities were not left behind. Strategies for removing the barriers people with disabilities face in community based preparedness activities, as well as strategies for making sure people with disabilities can receive, understand and take action on early warnings, were identified by the participants.
Building awareness of disability inclusion and developing strategies to ensure preparedness activities involve people with disabilities is core objective of the Disaster READY program. Trainings such as this support people with disabilities to have input into activities and for Disaster READY partners to ensure preparedness activities are inclusive of all – from the national to the community levels.