Keeping everyone safe: How emergency responders can be more inclusive for people with disabilities
By Jesse Berlin
Victims of emergencies don’t choose to be victims. They’re often in the wrong place at the wrong time when a disaster strikes and now find themselves in a situation they likely weren’t expecting and don’t deserve to be in. Because of this, emergency responders and the departments that employ them shouldn’t discriminate against anyone in need of support.
People with disabilities can be victims of emergencies, but emergency response departments may not be best prepared to address accessibility needs during a crisis, which results in people left stranded, abandoned and more susceptible to harm [3] [7]. Emergency responders need to know there’s a variety of scenarios someone can find themselves in a disaster and that the differing sets of circumstances for every individual requires adjustment and adaptation [1].
Emergency response departments should have plans in place to address any potential needs, including accessibility, before, during and after a rescue [1]. Areas to target include improving communication in case they need to get vital information out to reach as many people as possible, properly saving people from perilous situations and effectively supporting people as they’re transferred to a safer area to ensure their health and well-being are taken into account.
Communication is a key aspect of equitable emergency response as people in danger need to know where to go and what to do, but if there’s only one or a limited number of methods being used to get the word out, it risks leaving people in the dark. Updates or announcements that are meant to inform people in an affected area should be accompanied with closed captioning and American Sign Language interpretation from qualified sign language interpreters, according to the Association of State Health and Territorial Health Officials [2] [3]. Any written information that’s distributed by emergency responders should come with large print, braille and plain language options, so it’s easy for everyone to understand [2]. Utilizing assistive technology if individuals don’t have any at their disposal along with incorporating both visual and audio aids in both mass and one-on-one communication can also go a long way in making sure people aren’t left behind, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division [4].
Along with proper communication, when rescuing people, emergency responders should consider the many possible scenarios they and the people they’re rescuing can find themselves in to ensure the rescue itself and the interaction they have with an individual goes smoothly and efficiently, even if the approach has to change on a case-by-case basis.
If someone is in a situation where they need to get out, like being trapped or stuck somewhere dangerous, ask the person if they’d like assistance first and then be clear and direct with what you need to do to help them and how you’ll go about it while continuing to communicate every step of the way, according to Stanford University’s Diversity and Access Office [5]. Involve them in the rescue plan to make sure boundaries are respected, especially when it comes to physical contact, and any specific needs are taken into consideration, such as medical equipment, mobility aids, assistive technology or medication that the person needs with them [5]. This approach helps establish trust, transparency and mutual understanding between all parties and keeps everyone involved calm and focused.
While helping evacuate the person from one area to another, emergency responders should identify any obstacles that are in the way and how they need to adapt or adjust to them, what the most accessible route to safety is and how to transport someone along that route, keeping the person informed of what’s happening before and during the process [5]. This could involve clearing a path to safety, having accessible transportation ready to go that has the proper adaptations and specifications to accommodate people with disabilities and making sure that anything that someone needs like medical equipment and mobility aids stays with them [4] [5].
Once emergency responders have successfully helped someone reach a more secure area like a shelter or relief zone, support shouldn’t stop there. Although these areas are often designed to be temporary and are generally safer than the immediate area of danger, peoples’ health and well-being cannot be overlooked since the goal should be not only to save but to protect lives.
Emergency shelters and relief zones should be structurally accessible and compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, says the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, to make sure people with disabilities can enter, exit and move around easily [4]. It goes beyond ramps, says Accessible Communities of Washington State, as there should be accessible restrooms and bathing facilities with grab bars, cots and beds instead of floor mats, both visual and audio alerts and alarms in case of emergency, lowered counters and shelves, additional room for medical equipment and accessible communication methods available [6].
If it’s somewhere where a person is going to have to stay for at least more than one day or even if it’s just a day, the management teams that run these places should consider accessibility in every aspect of the building and operation beyond meeting basic necessities [6]. This includes having backup generators or power supply to keep medical equipment powered and running, ways to keep medication refrigerated if needed and electrical outlets to keep assistive technology and mobility aids charged [4] [6]. Through training and education, management teams can also instruct staff members to check that accessible routes around the shelter aren’t blocked or impassable, identify and remove any physical barriers and be prepared and knowledgeable about how to assist and communicate with someone upon request [4].
To further ensure their strategy is the most equitable, emergency response departments can also collaborate directly with disability rights advocacy groups or representatives and gather feedback and insight from people with disabilities via a combination of public outreach and internal surveying of employees with disabilities [2] [3]. One of the best ways to properly serve the community, any community, says the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, is to simply ask members of that community how to address their needs [7].
Emergency responders are supposed to help people in times of peril, but they also need to be prepared to handle any situation because not every rescue, not every case is going to be the same. Being more aware of accessibility needs that could arise during a crisis will help ensure peoples’ health, safety and well-being isn’t impacted in an emergency beyond their control.
[1] n.a. (2024, March 7). Ensuring Safety and Support: How Emergency Responders Can Work with People with Known Disabilities During Emergency Situations. Ability Together. https://abilitytogether.org/ensuring-safety-and-support/.
[2] Nilz, M. (2023, April 6). Prioritizing Disability Inclusion in Emergency Planning. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/prioritizing-disability-inclusion-in-emergency-planning/.
[3] Evans, A. (2020, December 2). Examining the Americans With Disabilities Act in Emergency Responses. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/examining-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-in-emergency-responses/.
[4] n.a. (n.d.). Emergency Planning. U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. https://www.ada.gov/topics/emergency-planning/.
[5] n.a. (n.d.). Guide for Assisting Individuals with Disabilities in an Emergency. Stanford University Diversity and Access Office. https://diversityandaccess.stanford.edu/disability-access/emergency-evacuation-planning/guide-assisting-individuals-disabilities-emergency.
[6] n.a. (n.d.). Inclusive emergency management. Accessible Communities. https://accessiblecommunities.wa.gov/get-funding/inclusive-emergency-management.
[7] n.a. (2021, November 23). 10 Essential Questions for Disability Inclusion in Health Agencies. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. https://www.astho.org/topic/brief/10-essential-questions-for-disability-inclusion-in-health-agencies/.
