Mainstreaming Disability into

Disaster Risk Reduction

Scale Up, Build Up
Strengthening Local Alliances, Advocacy and
Empowering Champions on Disaster Risk Reduction
Independent international aid organization working in situation of
poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster.
Working alongside persons with disabilities, our actions are
focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their
living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their
fundamental rights.
Founded in 1982
Co-recipient of the Nobel Peace prize in 1997
Works in 60 countries
Handicap International
has been working in the
Philippines since 1985.
Projects in the
Philippines
Prevention of Disabilities
Linked with Cardiovascular
Risks Davao City
REBUILD Inclusive
Livelihood
Typhoon Pablo Emergency
Response
Scale Up, Build Up Project

Scale Up, Build Up
Strengthening Local Alliances, Advocacy and
Empowering Champions on Disaster Risk Reduction
Objective: support the implementation of the Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Act (RA10121) by improving access to
information and increasing the institutional capacity of DRR
stakeholders to increase resilience of high risk communities in the
Philippines.
What is Handicap Internationals Role?
Technical Support to Consortium Partners:
Train staff on how to mainstream disability into
DRR
Provide recommendations on how to address
disability issues and concerns
Review documents and tools for inclusion
Link DPOs with DRR agencies and LGUs, and
partners
What is the experience of
persons with disabilities during
disasters?
Typhoon Reming
Mae Servito
Left alone during Typhoon Reming
Rescued by neighbour
Only a room was left of their house.
Evacuated on a dump truck
She felt hopeless.
What is Handicap Internationals
experience during disasters?

Typhoon Ondoy
Evacuation Center Management
Registration in
evacuation centers:
No disaggregated
registration systems.
No detail on the
demographic
breakdown of
evacuees was
available.



Evacuation Center Management
When camp managers or relief workers come across
these vulnerable groups during their inspections.
Despite identification, information regarding PWD is
not currently being recorded.
Identification of
Vulnerable Persons

Through familiarity
between community
members
Evacuation Center Management
Accessibility in evacuation
centers:
None were accessible
Persons with reduced
mobility were located on the
second floor, having difficult
access to the limited WASH
facilities and relief
distributions.





DISTRIBUTION (i.e. food, non-food items)

Accessibility:
-No noticeable efforts to ensure that the most
vulnerable populations accessed the distributed goods.

Evacuation Center Management
Water:
Available to most affected populations in the areas
visited (running water or open distributions)
But:
Not accessible to vulnerable groups such as persons
with disabilities or older persons.
No measures were taken to facilitate access to water
for these groups.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Health
Accessibility and availability:
Health services were available (but not consistent)
through health centers, hospitals, periodic medical
missions and barangay health workers.
Specific medicines and medical care for PWD and
persons with chronic medical conditions are
unavailable.
No distribution of specific items and equipment for
vulnerable groups, including assistive devices.

Psychosocial
60% of vulnerable persons
with disabilities/chronic
medical conditions and
elderly persons interviewed
showed behavioral and
emotional changes.


Protection
including child protection, education
There was no active identification of vulnerable persons.
There were no visible protection measures in place in areas
visited.
In ECs for instance, hazardous areas were not well-marked
and facilities were not easily accessible to PWD, older
persons and persons with specific needs.
Typhoon Sendong
Perceptions of NGOs and DRR
agencies regarding PWD during
disasters
Inclusion is automatic through a blanket approach and
through PWD caregivers
Disability inclusion requires special and technical skills
Disability inclusion will divert resources from the
affected population
PWD cannot participate in camp and community
activities
Facts about Disability and
Disasters
Disability in Disasters
Some estimates
Post-Tsunami in Asia
20% increase in PWD in the affected areas

Post-disaster in the World
5 - 7% are PWD in camps or temporary shelters and
one third of all people affected suffer from mental
distress.
Source: Oosters, B, CBM International Looking with a disability lens at the disaster
caused by the Tsunami in South-East Asia, (2005)

Because:
They tend to be invisible, and are often excluded
more than others from the relief actions.
They face additional barriers in accessing emergency
support.
They are at greater risk to see their level of
vulnerability increase.


Why should special attention and consideration be
given to persons with specific needs in an emergency
situation?
They are amongst the most negatively
affected in all the aspects of their lives.
Legal Frameworks on Disability
and Disasters
What do disaster laws and
frameworks say about disability?
Hyogo Framework for Action
III. B Priorities for action
(4) Reduce the underlying risk factors

(g) Strengthen the implementation of social safety-net
mechanisms to assist the poor, the elderly and the
disabled, and other populations affected by disasters.
Enhance recovery schemes including psycho-social training
programmes in order to mitigate the psychological impact
UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and
communities to disasters
Hyogo Framework for Action
2.1 Establish an initiative for countrywide risk
assessments
7. Conduct local community vulnerability and capacity
assessments. Consider social, economic, physical and
environmental vulnerability factors such as gender, disability,
access to infrastructure, economic diversity and environmental
sensitivities. Document and map capacities and vulnerabilities.
4.2 Social needs: Establish mechanisms for increasing
resilience of the poor and most vulnerable.
1. Improve data quality through disaggregated statistics
correlated to high-risk environments (e.g. age, disabilities, social
disparities and gender).
4.6 Financial/economic instruments: Create
opportunities for private-sector involvement in
disaster risk reduction
9. Promote the financing of specific post-disaster recovery
needs for poor people, or those with physical or age disabilities,
through microcredit and insurance products and services.

Hyogo Framework for Action
Sphere Standards 2008
PWDs are included as one of the cross-cutting issues
Reference is made to 'paying attention to vulnerable
groups' and provide workers with appropriate
training and orientation, especially increasing
awareness
No practical recommendations on how to include
PWD
Sphere Standards 2011
[They] are a diverse population including children
and older people, whose needs cannot be addressed
in a one size fits all approach. (p. 22 The Sphere
Project, 2011)
Disability issues are now included in the
Humanitarian Charter, the Protection Principles, the
Core Standards, and the technical chapters on
minimum standards
Section 2: Declaration of Policy
(n) Develop and strengthen the capacities of vulnerable and
marginalized groups to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and
recover from the effects of disasters

Section 3: Definition of Terms
(oo) Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups those that face
higher exposure to disaster risk and poverty including but not
limited to women, children, elderly, differently-abled people and
ethnic minorities
National DRRM Act of 2010
What are the disability laws and
frameworks that support inclusion
of PWDs in DRR?
Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
Philippines signed the CRPD on 27 September
2007 and ratified it on 14 April 2008.
States Parties shall takeall
necessary measures to ensure the
protection and safety of persons
with disabilities in situations of
risk, including situations of armed
conflict, humanitarian emergencies
and the occurrence of natural
disasters. (Article 11)

Incheon Strategy
Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2013
2022, the achievement of the regional vision of an inclusive
society that ensures, promotes and upholds the rights of all
persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
(Republic Act 7277) as amended by
R.A. 9442
National mandate for the elimination of
discrimination against PWD
(a) Disabled persons are part of Philippine
society, thus the State shall give full support to
the improvement of the total well-being of
disabled persons and their integration into the
mainstream of society. (Sec. 2)
Accessibility Law
(Batas Pambansa Blg. 344)
Passed in 1982
Requires certain buildings, institutions,
establishments and public utilities to install
accessible facilities and other devices, including
transportation and communication devices

Mainstreaming




It is the process of including disability in
policies, legislation and programs, in all
areas, at all levels, thus becoming an
integral dimension of their design,
implementation, monitoring and
evaluation.
It is said to be both a process and a goal.
TWIN TRACK APPROACH FOR MAINSTREAMING DISABILITY IN DRM
Mainstream DRR services
(non-specialized services for society
in general). Examples:
Task forces, VCAs,
contingency planning;
Information (EW; livelihood
opportunities);
Shelters and their facilities;
Food and crop distribution;
DRR programs of
governments, NGOs etc.;
Specialized services
(rehabilitation services for people with
temporary or permanent impairment).
Examples:
Functional Rehabilitation
(Physical + Occupational
Therapy, P+O services);
Corrective surgery, assistive
devices;
Info in sign language + Braille;
Care taker;
FOR
Reducing
vulnerability +
increasing capacity
Principle : as much mainstream services as possible,
specialized services when necessary
Approach to promote access for persons with disabilities to
Principles of Inclusive DRR
Participation
Accessibility
Non-discrimination

P A N
Participation
Active involvement of
people with
disabilities in all DRR
activities
Ensures relevance and
sustainability of any
development action
Requires positive
action and reasonable
accommodation
Are the opinions of PWD
part of decision making?
Accessibility
Reach
Enter
Circulate
Use
Entrance View Inside View
That wide cubicle inside
is utterly useless I cant
even get through from
here!!!
Now, how do they expect
me to close this door?
What about my
privacy?
Grab bars
beyond reach!
So
near
& yet
so
far!
Hazardous & non-functional ramps
Steep
Slippery
Narrow
Obstructed
No railings
Whats that tree
doing in the
middle of the
ramp ?
Revised IRR of PD 1096 / Amended IRR of BP 344
Accessible toilet cubicles/stalls shall
have a minimum area of 1.70 x 1.80
m. One movable grab bar and one
fixed to the adjacent wall shall be
installed for lateral mounting; fixed
grab bars for frontal mounting.
Door Pull-back Handle
(in Comfort Rooms)
Note: The door knob is
beyond reach of a person
on wheelchair because of
the big wheel getting in
the way.
A door handle near the
hinge for pulling the door
back to close is very
helpful.
What Accessibility Means to
People with Disabilities
Mobility
Convenience
Safety
Time-saving
Independence
Productivity
Equality
Empowerment
Progress
It refers to features that enable PWDs to make use
of the primary functions for which a structure is built.
It is indicated by this universal graphic sign:
It means:

It is a matter of HUMAN RIGHTS.

It means a barrier-free environment necessary for
independent living and equalization of opportunities.
Non-discrimination
Direct or indirect
Equal opportunities:
consider that not all have
the same starting point
General principles for an inclusive PCVA:
Be participatory: include PWD and their families in
all assessment exercises
Know about the disability situation (number,
location, specific impairment and capacities)
Speak directly to PWD. They are the best resource.
Adapt data collection techniques to the
impairment
Keep in Mind: PWDs have capacities too!

Rogelio Tanon from
Barangay Kilikilihan,
San Miguel,
Catanduanes. His
right foot was
amputated when he
was 12 years old due
to a vehicular
accident.
No disability in PVCA, No
disability in all actions
Considering PWD needs in the early stages of
assessment, project design and implementation
will ensure that their needs are appropriately
addressed where relevant before a disaster occurs.



EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS (EWS)
Does the
early
warning
system
reach all
persons in
the
community?

Include persons with disabilities during its
development
EWS should be in both auditory and visual forms.
Include persons with disabilities in mock drills related
to EWS.
Inform persons with disabilities on a priority basis.
Provide theoretical and practical training on disability-
inclusive EWS for your organizations staff.


Practical Recommendations for an
Inclusive EWS
Examples of inclusive EWS:

-Visual impairments- audio (bells, siren)

-Hearing impairments- visual---signs, large print, drawing,
symbols, sign language, subtitles, flags, color codes

-Intellectual and mental impairments/ Psychological
impairments- short and clear announcements and
instructions, conditioning

-Physical impairments- Audio and visual announcements

INCLUSIVE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS (EWS)



INCLUSIVE SEARCH, RESCUE
AND EVACUATION (SRE)
In an emergency response, actors typically focus
on people newly injured through the disaster.
Persons with disabilities need to be included in
search activities just as anyone else
They are at a higher risk of getting neglected,
injured and trapped, lost or left behind
People with disabilities and SRE
It is therefore important that emergency search and rescue
personnel should have knowledge on how to adapt search
and rescue techniques to find and move persons having
different types of disabilities.
Principle of Inclusive SRE
Persons with disabilities can be evacuated:

Through their own efforts
Through some assistance; and
Through complete assistance

Map persons with disabilities!!!
Include persons with disabilities/Disabled Peoples
Organisations/health rehabilitation specialists in SRE
trainings and mock drills;
Train SRE teams on adapting SRE techniques to
impairments
Stock stretchers, wheelchairs, crutches etc.: in
disaster, they are helpful not only for persons with
disabilities
Practical Recommendations
to make SRE Inclusive
Despite my
disability I can still
help others.
Alma Bulima
Member, Evacuation
Committee, Barangay
Pagsangahan DRRMC
(San Miguel,
Catanduanes)



INCLUSIVE CAMP MANAGEMENT
INCLUSIVE SHELTER/EVACUATION CENTER
Inclusive shelter will provide benefit for other vulnerable
groups including persons with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities, persons with disabilities
organizations and caretakers have ideas on how the
shelters will become inclusive hence it is essential to
involve them in the planning and implementation phase.

Inclusive shelters need to be safe, accessible in terms of
mobility and communication, and equitable to supplies
and services.

Inclusive Communication


Alternative Formats
an Strategies
Braille
System of simple
arrangement of 6
embossed dots
First introduced in 1825
by Louis Braille
Captioning
Translates the audio portion of a video
presentation by way of subtitles, or captions,
which usually appear on the bottom of the
screen
May be closed or open



Large print
Large font size (16 to 18 point) for characters


Typeface
Avoid complicated, decorative or cursive typeface for
texts and headlines
Use of simple serif typeface for text
Ex: Times News Roman



Typeface
Use of san serif typeface like Arial or Verdana
Serif means tail



Increase letter spacing


Leading
Leading, or spacing between lines of text, should be at
least 25 to 30 percent of the point size

Improve contrast
Text should be printed with the highest possible contrast

Type Color
Very high contrasts are difficult to achieve with color
combinations other than black and white.

Margins
Extra-wide
Spiral binding
Visual devices
such as stand-
and video-
magnifiers

Align text left
Easier to read
Line of text should be no longer than 6 inches
(approximately 50-60 characters per line)
Photos
Use papers that are not glossy
Color light on dark, dark on light
Benefits of Inclusive Communication Tools
The communication of information to the public is central
to risk management.

Communication Tools
Audiences
Knowledge
Reaction
Disregard
Translate
knowledge
into action
No information
No knowledge
Vulnerable people
cannot mobilise to
protect themselves
Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction
Commit to being disability-inclusive by ensuring that all DRR
actions consider disability issues.
Gather baseline information on disability in the community.
Engage and involve local Disabled Peoples Organizations
(DPOs) in DRR activities.
Train staff on inclusion and disability rights.
Reduce barriers to inclusion in DRR activities.
Communicate with persons with disabilities in ways
appropriate to their impairments
Promote positive attitudes about disability for an inclusive,
barrier-free society.
Mainstream Inclusive DRR in local development planning

Contact us
12-D Valero Tower
122 Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Tel. No.: +63 2 8126990
Fax: +63 2 8170147
E-mail: info@handicapinternational.ph
Website: http://www.handicapinternational.ph