Over 150 attendees will gather today in Dublin for the National Disability Authority’s annual conference to discuss solutions and best practices in ensuring that responses to extreme weather events, including storms, floods and heatwaves, are inclusive of disabled people. 

The theme of the conference is framed by Ireland’s commitments under Article 11 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which focuses on the safety and protection of disabled people during situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. The event aims to share both national and international good practice in ensuring disability inclusive responses to extreme weather events and other emergencies, as well as learning from the lived experiences of disabled people.

Solutions and innovations which will be highlighted at the conference include:

  • Spain’s Protocol for Communication and Assistance to Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Situations, which provides instructions on how emergency services should interact with disabled people to ensure their safety
  • Australia’s Disability Inclusive Emergency Management Toolkit, which supports emergency planners, governments, and disability and community organisations to ensure disability inclusion is part of emergency preparedness planning
  • The work underway in Wicklow County Council to develop a county-wide action plan to ensure emergency responses respect the rights of disabled people, which would be a first in Ireland.

In advance of the conference, Norma Foley T.D., Minister for Children, Disability and Equality said “It’s important that disabled people are included in emergency response planning. Thank you to Wicklow County Council who are doing excellent work in developing a disability-inclusive emergency response plan and I look forward to all others following suit.” 

The conference is especially timely given the increase in extreme weather events in Ireland over the past number of years and their negative impacts on disabled people. This includes prolonged power outages caused by Storm Éowyn, severe flooding triggered by Storm Chandra, and negative health impacts arising from this summer’s extended heatwave. There is also a potential for further unpredictable weather this winter caused by a strengthening El Niño.

The conference will discuss the particular challenges disabled people can face during emergencies and extreme weather events, arising from lack of accessible emergency information and interruptions to support services. Loss of electricity supply can also disproportionately affect disabled people who use assistive technology or electrical medical equipment. 

Catherine Naughton, Executive Director of the European Disability Forum, who will deliver the keynote address at today’s conference, stated “People with disabilities face heightened risks during emergencies not because of disability itself, but because preparedness, early warning, communication, evacuation, sheltering, and response systems are often not designed to be accessible or inclusive. I believe that this is because in general, when responses systems are being planned, people with disabilities are not at the table.”

Emer Higgins T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, who will also address the conference, emphasised the importance of ensuring disabled people have a meaningful say in emergency planning and response:

“When we are planning for emergencies, we need to make sure that disabled people are part of those conversations from the very beginning. Lived experience is essential to understanding the barriers that exist and the supports that may be needed.

“That’s why participation matters. It leads to better decisions, more inclusive planning and ultimately better outcomes for everyone.

“The Power to Participate Fund, which was launched in May this year, will help strengthen the capacity of organisations representing and advocating for disabled people, ensuring their voices are heard in the decisions that affect their lives.”

Kathryn O’Donoghue, Chairperson of the National Disability Authority, underscored the importance of universal design: “Emergency responses should be designed to meet the needs of all people, to the greatest extent possible. We need to do more to ensure that accessibility and universal design are the standard for emergency preparedness and response, not an afterthought.”

Attendees will include policy makers, public sector and local authority officials, academics, Disabled Persons Organisations and other disability organisations, as well as individuals with disabilities and their families.