Disabled awareness causes concern

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 31

Disabled awareness causes concern

Many disaster and emergency service organisations are not fully aware of the special needs of disabled people, according to a preliminary finding of a yearlong study on the ability of the disabled to handle disasters.

The study was initiated by Dr Arnold Parr, of the department of sociology at the University of Canterbury, and is being undertaken by Ms Valerie Smith, with the help of a grant from the International Year of Disabled Persons Telethon Trust.

The aim of the study is to investigate and improve the ability of disabled persons to handle disasters and; to make disaster and emergency service organisations aware . of their special needs. '■> .js .

■„ Ms Smith said this®as an

area that had previously been overlooked and the study dealt with all aspects of both man-made and natural disasters from the planning phase to the impact and the rehabilitation phases. Information has been gathered from people and organisations from throughout New Zealand as well as overseas literature. However, Ms Smith said she was still eager to speak to disabled persons, or those who live with them, who have been through fires, floods, or evacuations. She wanted to know how they handled the situation and who helped them. The study will be finished in November and Ms Smith hopes to write a report, but she has already reached a number of preliminary findings and made recommen-

dations. She believes more training and education on the needs of the disabled are needed. It has to be decided who is responsible for the disabled in emergencies, and disabled persons themselves have to accept the responsibility for organising their own safety as far as possible. The Accident Compensation Commission aims its safety and emergency literature at the able-bodied who can be disabled by injury or accident, but ignores that those already disabled can be further disabled. Ms Smith believed this should be rectified.

A series of workshops will be held next month for people and groups who have contributed to the project