Additional Resources for People with Disabilities in Emergencies & Disasters
Access to resources in disaster is especially important for people with disabilities, who are disproportionately impacted by emergencies and disasters.
Here are some resources we recommend for people with disabilities, organizations, and emergency planning and response managers.
Resources from the World Institute on Disability
External Resources
- All
- Planning Tools
- Nursing Homes
- Spanish
- Elder Abuse
- Global
- Homelessness
- Disasters
- Climate Change
- COVID-19
- Geographic
- United States
- World
- International
- National
- Regional
- State
- City
- Planning
- Response
- Recovery
- Resilience
- Equity
- Media
- Personal Preparedness
- Disability-Specific
- Know Your Rights
- Advocacy
- Support for Institutions
- For Educators
- Videos
- Research
- Legal
- Accessibility
- Community Living
- Preparedness
Planning Tools
- Preparing for Hospitalization During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Checklist for People with Disabilities June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- (WHO): Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak World Health Organization's page on Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
Nursing Homes
Spanish
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- Redy.gov Website in Spanish
Elder Abuse
Global
- (WHO): Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak World Health Organization's page on Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
Disasters
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- Mutual Aid Hub
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- AARP Community Connections
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- Disability Inclusion in Disaster Risk Management
- Ready.gov Website
- Redy.gov Website in Spanish
- Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities
- Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices
- Emergency PreparednessTools and Guidelines
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies
Climate Change
COVID-19
- list of signatories to the Call to Action View list of signatories to the Call to Action
- Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
- (WHO): Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak World Health Organization's page on Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
- ONG Inclusiva: First International Survey on People with Disabilities and COVID-19 (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- Preparing for Hospitalization During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Checklist for People with Disabilities June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
- Social Distancing and Crip Survival: A Disability Centered Response to COVID-19 from Sins Invalid
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- CDC: Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- Call to Action sign-on form To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
Geographic
United States
- list of signatories to the Call to Action View list of signatories to the Call to Action
- Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CDC: Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- Call to Action sign-on form To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form
World
International
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- ONG Inclusiva: First International Survey on People with Disabilities and COVID-19 (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
National
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
- CDC: Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
Regional
State
- Connecticut State Independent Living Council Facebook page for CTSILC
- Disability Rights Connecticut
City
Planning
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- Emergency PreparednessTools and Guidelines
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- DREDF International Laws
- FEMA Office of Disability Integration and Coordination
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Mutual Aid Hub
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- AARP Community Connections
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction - a whole communty action
- Disaster Preparedness Guides for Persons with Disabilities
- Disability Inclusion in Disaster Risk Management
- Ready.gov Website
- Redy.gov Website in Spanish
- Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- Emergency Registries for People with Access and Functional Needs
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices
Response
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities
- Access to Emergency Information on Television
- Mutual Aid Hub
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
Recovery
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
Media
Disability-Specific
Know Your Rights
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Access to Emergency Information on Television
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Disability
- United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Website
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- IASC Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- DREDF International Laws
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Website
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
- Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
- Filling with Office for Civil Rights
- The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Preventing Discrimination in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: The Illegality of Medical Rationing on the Basis of Disability
- Disability Rights Section of the US Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Bulletin March 28, 2020– Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
Advocacy
- list of signatories to the Call to Action View list of signatories to the Call to Action
- Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence Open letter to Vice President Mike Pence
- Connecticut State Independent Living Council Facebook page for CTSILC
- Disability Rights Connecticut
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): COVID-19 Resource – Key advocacy messages, questions to ask on inclusion and signpost to resources to learn more (PDF) IDA covid resources (PDF)
- International Disability Alliance (IDA): Toward a Disability-Inclusive COVID-19 Response: 10 recommendations (PDF)
- Social Distancing and Crip Survival: A Disability Centered Response to COVID-19 from Sins Invalid
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
- Real Emergency Access for Aging and Disability Inclusion Act and Disaster Relief Medicaid Act
- Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies US-based organization focused solely on the rights and needs of people with disabilities throughout disasters, emergencies, and crises.
- Call to Action sign-on form To sign on to the COVID-19 Call to Action, fill out the Call to Action sign-on form
Support for Institutions
For Educators
- Disability Justice and COVID-19 Resources NYU Center for Disability Studies
Videos
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Know Your Rights COVID-19 video series Know Your Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CDC: Releases New ASL Videos on Covid-19 emergency prep download video
Research
- Guidance for People with Disabilities in the face of COVID-19 in the Americas and the Caribbean United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction – Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
- Disability Rights International (DRI) Survey that gathered data on how States are responding to states of emergency situations in relation to people with disabilities.
- ONG Inclusiva: First International Survey on People with Disabilities and COVID-19 (PDF)
Legal
Accessibility
Community Living
- The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies: COVID-19 Community-Wide Resources (Google Doc) Comprehensive and continuously-updated Google Doc of various resources and organizations related to COVID-19 and disability advocacy.
Preparedness