For four years, the Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA) has connected organizations worldwide to empower communities during disasters. See GADRA 2020 - 2030 Impacts and Vision Document.
GADRA's Mission
When disability-led organizations are left out of funding and planning, people with disabilities are left behind, without access to resources they need to maintain their health, safety, independence, dignity, and even their lives. The result is high death rates for people with disabilities in all disasters.
To address this gap, and as a response to COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA) was launched in 2020. GADRA began by engaging disability leaders from over 69 countries, creating relationships with disability-led organizations, corporations, businesses, government agencies, and foundations, and building a community of allies. The shared vision was a commitment to shattering the myths that people with disabilities are vulnerable, expendable, and a liability in disasters; accelerating necessary resources; and disrupting the practices that leave people behind.
The mission was to connect disability-led organizations actively responding to disasters with partners and resources, before, during, and after disasters.
From Forbes Article, "Deadly Discrimination: The Forgotten Impact of COVID-19" by Stephen Frost
“People with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely than others to be injured or die in disasters, primarily due to inadequate community-wide planning and access to emergency and disaster assistance. The Global Alliance is a direct response to COVID-19, which is impacting multiply-marginalized people with disabilities even more disproportionately than other disasters, with devastating outcomes,” stated Marcie Roth, CEO of WID. “The Global Alliance is also being built as a resource for rapid response to disasters that will surely follow.”
Full article - Deadly Discrimination: The Forgotten Impact of COVID-19 on People with Disabilities
GADRA's History
Intro to GADRA Slide Deck
This slide deck explains our history, founding, mission, and initial survey findings:
Video from GADRA's Launch
GADRA's First Year
In celebration of all that we accomplished in 2020 and 2021, we created the below infographic sharing our successes. Full image descriptions below the images.
Image descriptions for the infographics
Slide 1: Text: "Happy 1st birthday to GADRA!" Global Alliance for Disaster Resource Acceleration (GADRA) logo, a rainbow of 6 arrows forming a sphere, with a lavender party hat perched on top.
Slide 2: Text with illustrations. Text: "What is GADRA? An innovative initiative to target disaster relief + resilience resources to local disability-led organizations.GADRA is a dynamic collaboration among disability-led organizations (DLOs), foundations, corporations, and other allies. GADRA identifies DLOs in disaster-impacted communities, then links corporate and foundation partners to accelerate assistance and resources." Illustrations of disability and disaster supplies including insulin, bottled water, cash, a white cane, a hammer, and trach supplies.
Slide 3: Text, list with illustrations: "Since our launch one year ago...9 Remote global gatherings with 1,659 registrants; [from] 73 Countries, on 6 continents; 21 Founders Circle entities; 4 Resource matches with disaster impacted disability-led organizations". Illustrations include a laptop with a person onscreen, a world map with represented countries highlighted in red, a circle of person icons, and maps of the 4 locations of the resource matches (Puerto Rico, Colombia, Louisiana, and Texas).
Slide 4: Text, list with illustrations: "What resources have we accelerated into disability-led organizations? 30 Pallets of bottled water, White canes, 17 Computers with screen reader tech, Insulin, Housing reconstruction materials, 8 Smartphones, Customized wheelchair, Fundraiser support, Employment trainings, Ecological, sustainable employment positions in vocational rehab, Sign language trainings, Long-term collaborations, 100 Grocery gift cards, Advocacy, and Technical assistance". Each item is illustrated in a border around the text.
Slide 5: Text with illustrations. "Puerto Rico - Hurricane Isaias, August 2020.
Movimiento para el Alcance de Vida Independiente, Movement for the Reach of Independent Living (MAVI). Disability-led Independent Living Center MAVI needed support to provide disaster relief and employment trainings. The community needed available positions for people with disabilities to be hired into. GADRA’s Impact: Mutual collaboration on sign language trainings, fundraising campaign, feedback and commitment to ecological sustainable employment positions in vocational rehab, and employment trainings. Ongoing partnership established for future mutual disaster preparedness." Illustrated map of Puerto Rico filled with icons representing each of the items or services generated from the match, including an employee badge (indicating new jobs), feedback chat bubbles, hands signing in American Sign Language, cash, and computer with a speaker onscreen (indicating trainings).
Slide 6: Text with illustrations. "Colombia - Hurricane Iota, November 2020. Colombian National Organization of the Blind, Colombian National Coordinator of Persons with Limited Vision, and Colombian National Council of Persons with Disabilities. Hurricane Iota caused massive flooding and mudslides which damaged homes, technology, disability equipment, safe paths of travel, and more. GADRA’s Impact: 17 computers with screen reader technology, 8 smartphones, new custom wheelchair, white canes, housing reconstruction materials, and personal disability supplies." Illustrated map of Colombia filled with icons representing each of the items or services generated from the match, including laptop computers, smartphones, manual wheelchairs, white canes, and hammers.
Slide 7: Text with illustrations. "Texas, USA - Winter Storm Uri, February 2021. Extreme cold weather led to power outages that caused food and insulin to spoil, and a shortage of safe drinking water. GADRA’s Impact: 100 Gift cards for groceries, total of $5,000; Medical supplies; and 30 Pallets of bottled water." Illustrated map of Texas filled with icons representing each of the items or services generated from the match, including gift cards, bottled water, and injectable medication.
Slide 8: Text with illustrations. "Louisiana, USA - Flooding, April 2021 Trach Mommas of Louisiana. Floods caused severe damage to their warehouse and inventory of durable medical equipment and supplies for disabled people. GADRA’s Impact: $1,000 towards repair and restock of items for home and community living." Illustrated map of Louisiana filled with icons representing each of the items or services generated from the match, including tracheostomy supplies and hammers.