Factors of Vulnerability and Resilience of Persons with Disabilities During Disasters: Challenges and Strategies for Inclusive Risk Reduction

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202503.1928.v1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-28T00:52:39Z
• Authors: Milica Jevtić; Vladimir M. Cvetk...; Jasmina Gačić; Zlatko Raonić
• Keywords: Vulnerability; Disaster risk reduction; Resilience

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are among the most at-risk groups during disaster situations due to various physical, sensory, cognitive, and systemic challenges that hinder their ability prepare for, respond to, recover from crises. Although international legal frameworks stress inclusion, PWDs often struggle access essential resources, emergency assistance, social protections such events. This study examines both vulnerabilities strengths of in risk management, highlighting critical need for inclusive policies, enhanced accessibility measures, stronger community-based support systems. It reviews key international, European, national instruments designed protect rights contexts while identifying gaps implementation. Furthermore, research explores active role can assume prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, advocating meaningful participation decision-making processes. By embedding reduction strategies, societies bolster resilience, ensure equitable services, promote long-term inclusion PWDs. The findings emphasise importance multi-stakeholder collaboration, adaptive infrastructure, targeted policy initiatives bridge gap between mandates practical realities management.