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, 20132022, 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