Disability-inclusive disaster recovery guidance launched

The Disability-inclusive disaster recovery guidance provides action-oriented direction for government officials and decision-makers with responsibility for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

The guidance will enable the development of disability-inclusive planning and programming across sectors and government. The note is expected to be of interest to wider government and non-government actors, including disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs), concerned with inclusive recovery. The note recommends the following:

• Apply a twin-track approach that invests in disability inclusion in mainstream recovery programming and disability-specific interventions;
• Focus disability-inclusive recovery and reconstruction around the removal of barriers to benefit as wide a range of persons with disabilities as possible. At the same time, do not overlook specific individual needs and the importance of reasonable accommodation;
• Persons with disabilities are best placed to evaluate whether recovery processes are inclusive or not;
• Do not lose sight of the overall aim of disability-inclusive recovery. That is, to enable equality of opportunities and to build resilience for all.