The idea and an examples of Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

Abstract

Background. Disaster Risk Reduction was defined as ”The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development” by the Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations. In particular, when targeting disability, it is firstly expressed as Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR) by San Yuenwah, in 2014 during the preparation meeting organized by RI with ESCAP, and Nippon Foundation for the 3rd UN World congress on DRR(WCDRR3). At the preparation process of WCDRR3, the group of persons with disabilities did not have a formal opportunity to speak, because PWD was not included in the nine major groups authorized by the UN. Major groups are composed of women, children & youth, farmers, indigenous peoples, NGOs, workers &trade unions, local authorities, scientific & technological community and business & industry. Methods. DiDRR Network, the International Disability Alliance, Nippon Foundation, and Rehabilitation International sent a written request to International Strategy for DRR and its chair person. The request was grouped by the Assistive Technology Development Organization (ATDO) according to the official UN Commission Protocol. Similar efforts might be effective for local agencies to run DiDRR activities in communities. Resluts. The DRR Network was nicknamed ‘the group that kicked the door down’ and was positioned as an ‘other important stakeholder’ conforming to the major groups with the four above-mentioned organizations summarizing the opinions of persons with disabilities across the world as managing organizations. DRR Network achieved the following 3 outcomes. The first, in the Sendai Framework, a document adopted for WCDRR3, the word “disability” is firstly appeared. The second, WCDRR3 held its 1st official session on “DRR and disability” at the main congress thanks to the DRR Network and Japanese government. At this session Japanese members of Bethel’s House, a group of persons with severe mental illness living in the community gave an presentation on their experiences of continuous evacuation trainings using DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) format manuals. DAISY is an international digital talking book standard. Their achievement was not only securing their safety, but also leading an early evacuation for the other town residents. After WCDRR3, Bethel’s House continues to run evacuation drills every year in each workplace and each apartment. These trials have been encouraged through the research project by Hiroshi Kawamura (former National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, and ATDO). The third, WCDRR3 offered reasonable accommodations for national representatives with disabilities who participated at official meetings due to proposal by Disability Network to UN with financial support by the Nippon Foundation and technical support by ATDO. It was the first occasion in UN international conference except conferences on disabilities. Sign language interpreters, subtitles of presentations, ramps, DAISY format materials, DAISY players, brail displays, a rehearsal opportunity for presentations, and travel expenditures for personal assistants and interpreters. Conclusion. The fact that a person with disability worked as the local disaster prevention leader was considered to be the foundational aspect since the Sendai Framework, 2015.