Erin Kelly explores The United Nations’ recent proposal to include the disabled in their plans for evacuation, recovery and relief during natural disasters.
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For many, the feeling of inclusiveness provokes a sense of unity. It sparks the idea that, when everyone is doing everything in their power to build common ground, mountains can indeed be moved. Part of that idea is the very fabric of The American Dream. The other part of it, however, is the will to never be denied.
These observations coincide perfectly with the definition of ‘inclusive’, the root word from which inclusiveness is derived: “the act of including; the state of being included.”
It’s likely that those words can—and do—apply to any number of thriving business owners, organizations and anyone who dares to try to make a difference in the world. It’s what makes our planet of life and existence as richly diverse as it is. When you take those words apply them to a global discussion about the disabled, however, they become more than just a simple dictionary definition.
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With that comes a need to feel safe and secure—just like every living, breathing thing deserves to feel. When you have a disability, that feeling is elevated because you’re consciously aware that you’re always going need some extra help in order to achieve a sense of safety and security. Not only that, but you also have to be very aware of the possibility of an emergency—and how you’re going to go about escaping, or doing whatever it is you’re going to do in that particular scenario.
That’s the message that representatives at The UN World Conference tried to convey earlier this month, according to a recent article published by a UK-based web site called The Conversation. The event—held in Sendai, Japan—focused on a proposal on why disabled individuals should be included in the global plans and procedures to escape natural disasters.
The March 12 report from The Conversation listed a number of crucial bullet points of this plan, which include:
Vulnerability – “During natural disasters, the daily inequalities that people with disabilities face are amplified. As the first to be left behind and the last to be rescued, their rights to protection and safety are often denied.”
Taking steps towards inclusion – “[In order to meet] the needs of [those] with disabilities, practical solutions should come from people with disability themselves. To do so, they should be included in all phases of planning, response and recovery from natural disasters.”
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The article went on to say that people with disabilities are approximately four times more likely to be injured or killed in the wake of a natural disaster than a general population is. It also noted that the disabled are far less likely to receive necessary help they need in the event of a natural disaster—and have a more difficult time recovering due to the lack of assistance. Lastly, many or all designated emergency shelters and services aren’t accessible or compliant with the needs of disabled individuals, which increases their risk of suffering or dying from the injuries they sustain.
There are some vital questions that come to mind after reading something like this. I think the biggest—and most pressing one—is that of liability. There’s a massive amount of liability just in the scope of emergencies and natural disasters themselves, but to factor disabilities into the equation creates an entirely different weight and responsibility.
The weight comes in knowing there are millions of people with disabilities around the world, likely living in some of the most disaster-prone countries. The people who run these global emergency shelters not only have that fact to digest. They also have to contend with having to turn every disabled person away who comes to their door for treatment and care. It’s something that should weigh heavy on all care providers’ minds—and if it doesn’t, they need to take a good, hard look in the mirror.
That in turn raises additional questions about accountability: What if someone does die because of a lack of care? How many have died as a result? Is it legitimate or ethical to say lives were lost simply because medical staff turned them away? Finally—and most importantly—who exactly is to be held responsible for all this?
Perhaps it’s not the doctors’ decision to turn someone away or to let them die. It’s understandable that these shelters aren’t handicap accessible, but maybe they have to turn the disabled down in part because of large amounts of people who come to their doorstep with a disability. Still, it begs the question, “How ethical or justifiable are these actions and decisions?”
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I think it would be wrong for me to insert anything other than my opinions and observations into this story. I’m not in a position where I’m in the magnitude of danger caused by a natural disaster. The closest I’ve even ever seen one is on TV or the nightly news. If anything, I’m grateful that I’m not in that line of danger. I quite frankly am not sure what I’d do or where I’d go if I were. However, I have experienced the dangers of flooding, and my parents have made adaptations to our house so that neither I nor my wheelchair gets damaged.
That being said, I applaud The United Nations for their initiative to include the disabled in disaster planning. I think it’s a huge step in showing the world that disability is, without a doubt, a major social justice issue. It also shows that disability is an issue that’s not going to go away anytime soon—and therefore, needs to be addressed in the same manner that gender equality, hunger and poverty are.
If we are to truly live by and embrace the idea of inclusiveness, we need initiatives like these. We need to follow the example of global organizations such as UNICEF and motivate others to do the same.
I’ll leave you with this:
If we don’t take matters into our own hands and simply leave the world in the hands of those who are inexperienced in these matters, what are we doing to the circle of life?
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Photo Credit:clagnut/Flickr
Hi Erin
Well said Erin
This is an important issue.
“We can not leave this in the hands of those who are inexperienced in these matters….”
Now you made me think!