Emergency planning for students with disabilities: a survey of Australian schools
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Children with disabilities and special needs are among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes. Schools can play an effective role in mitigating the effects of natural disasters on students and their families through disaster preparedness and community-based risk reduction. However, recent research indicates that insufficient consideration is being given to the needs of students with disabilities in disaster management plans and policies of Australian education departments. This study involved a postal survey of schools in Western Australia (n= 45) and South Australia (n=35) to review the emergency management policies and plans in place with respect to students with disabilities. The results indicated that most schools had disaster management plans but not all plans made provision for students with disabilities, although the results varied according to the disability and the disaster envisaged. Moreover, most schools were not represented at Local Disaster Management Groups. This paper advocates for better preparedness in schools to support their students with disabilities and their families during natural disasters.
Journal
Australian Journal of Emergency Management
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Volume
29
ISBN/ISSN
1324-1540
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Issue
1
Pages Count
5
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Publisher
Australian Emergency Management Institute
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