Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Recommendations for Integrating

Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Recommendations for Integrating the Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Mitigation Needs of the Whole Community July, 2013

Mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency “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. ”

Office of Disability Integration and Coordination Mission Statement 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.

Assets Not Liabilities

Promising Practices in Inclusive Preparedness www. fema. gov/about/odic

Key Principles of US Disability Rights and Non Discrimination Laws that Apply in Emergency Programs: • • Equal Access Physical 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.

Key Principles for Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction • • • 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 Development Tokyo, Japan, 19 -21 April 2012

Disability Stakeholder Consultation Meeting Outcome May, 2013 • HFA 2 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. • HFA 2 should address the significance of investing in disabilityinclusive DRR to minimize human and economic loss, safeguard development gains and promote sustainable solutions benefiting all communities. • HFA 2 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 Recommendations Global 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 Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of Disability Integration and Coordination Marcie Roth, Director marcie. roth@fema. dhs. gov 202. 212. 1537 www. fema. gov/about/odic