A community’s existing knowledge of the capacities and vulnerabilities of its members can help to ensure accessibility in the design of emergency preparedness and response programs.
Community organizations may be able to provide insight, information, experience, networks and resources vital to increasing disaster resilience – input that can be included in planning stages but also in re-design.
Strategies:
Include measures in the program design to actively promote equality of service, and to monitor and correct possible gaps in accessibility or unintended barriers for diverse groups.
Involve those who are most vulnerable to and directly affected by emergencies in the design of the program to increase their sense of control and decrease their risk.
