Natural disasters are already harrowing for whole communities; for persons with disabilities, they often magnify pre-existing inequities in mobility, communication, health, and social inclusion. In the United States, the frequency and cost of extreme weather events have climbed sharply. In 2023 alone, the U.S. experienced 28 “billion-dollar weather and climate disasters”, a new record, imposing an estimated $92.9 billion in damage. These calamities—from hurricanes and floods to tornado outbreaks and wildfires—represent not just economic loss, but human suffering, psychological trauma, and setbacks for already marginalized groups.
In countries like Pakistan, the situation is even more serious, because many communities live with fragile infrastructure, weak emergency systems, and limited resources for inclusive relief. In Pakistan’s recent floods, millions of people were displaced, entire villages submerged or cut off, and essential services disrupted. For persons with disabilities—whether permanent or temporary, physical or sensory or cognitive—the challenges are manifold and often ignored.
Disability, in this context, is not a single condition. Some people use wheelchairs or other mobility aids; others have visual or hearing impairments; still others have cognitive or developmental differences, chronic health conditions, or temporary disabilities due to injury. The diversity of needs means disaster responses must be equally nuanced.
When disaster strikes, people are often urged to evacuate quickly. But disaster conditions can block roads, render streets impassable, or leave debris that prevents wheeled devices or even walking across surfaces. Floodwaters, damaged bridges, cracked roads, fallen trees—all pose serious hazards, especially for those with mobility limitations. Even temporarily disabled individuals due to illness or injury, might find standard evacuation routes impossible.
Early warning systems—sirens, radio broadcasts, smartphone alerts—may not reach people with sensory impairments. Individuals with hearing loss may not receive audible alarms; those with visual impairment may miss visual alerts or evacuation route signage. In chaotic, noisy relief camps, hearing aids may malfunction or lose batteries. If information is shared only in spoken or written form, people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities may struggle to understand instructions or adapt to changing conditions.
Many persons with disabilities depend on caregivers, personal assistants, or specialized medical equipment (ventilators, medication etc.). Disasters can sever these supports—caregivers may themselves be displaced, or infrastructure (electric power, water, transport) may fail. Disruption of medication supply, therapy sessions, or adaptive care can worsen a person’s health rapidly. Prolonged displacement may further worsen the condition of person with special needs.
Disaster survivors often experience acute stress, grief, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For individuals with disabilities, these risks are magnified by isolation, loss of support networks, sensory overload, communication difficulties, and uncertainty about access to needed services. In Pakistan, emerging studies show floods correlate with anxiety, depression, and other psychological distress—particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable and disabled populations.
When homes are destroyed, many displaced persons must live in temporary camps for extended periods. For persons with disabilities, the inaccessibility of shelters—ramps, accessible toilets, pathways—makes life harder.
Pakistan faces a particularly stark intersection of climate change, poverty, and disability exclusion. In 2022, the country experienced its most devastating floods in memory: over 8 million people were displaced, and billions in losses, and widespread damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure. This year country is facing another devastating flood, effecting vast areas of Pakistan.
It was noted that many flood-affected districts had limited pre-existing infrastructure for disability inclusion—shelters often lacked ramps, accessible toilets, or tactile signage. Research on migration and mental health following displacement in Pakistan indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions are disproportionately affected by disruptions in schooling, routines, therapy, and support networks. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, studies of flood-affected children with physical disabilities highlight emotional and behavioral challenges, including anxiety, attention problems, and social withdrawal.
In short: for persons with disabilities in Pakistan, flood disasters often mean total disruption—not just of shelter but of identity, care, dignity, and survival.
Designing disaster systems that truly include persons with disabilities requires both structural shifts and practical measures. Below is a framework of recommendations:
Establish participatory planning committees that include persons with disabilities and disability organizations. Conduct drills and evacuation simulations that include wheelchair users, sensory impairment, and cognitive diversity. Equip evacuation vehicles (e.g. buses) to handle wheelchairs and train emergency staff in assisting persons with mobility or sensory needs.
Ensure shelters have ramps, wide doors, accessible toilets, clear walkways, tactile signage. Maintain medicine supply chains, therapy, and assistive services even during displacement. Deploy mobile rehabilitation teams, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and mental health professionals attuned to disability. Collaborate with local disability organizations for peer support and assistive device repair or replacement.
Embed psychological first aid in disaster response, with staff trained to recognize trauma responses in persons with disabilities. Provide counseling, group support, and routes to referral for long-term mental health care. Pay particular attention to children, older adults, and those with prior psychiatric or cognitive vulnerabilities. Use cash grants, vouchers, or social protection schemes rather than in-kind aid, to allow recipients to choose the tools or services they need.
Enact or strengthen laws requiring accessibility in disaster planning (e.g. building codes, inclusive shelter mandates). Coordinate upstream with disaster management agencies, local government, NGOs, and disability rights organizations. Establish accountability and monitoring systems for disability inclusion in relief. Collect disaggregated data (by disability type) to inform evidence-based responses.
Natural disasters are not “natural” in all respects—they intersect with social vulnerability, policy, infrastructure, and inequality. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, we risk amplifying entrenched inequities unless we build systems that are inclusive from the start.
For readers who wish to help the flood affected population, here are some concrete actions: Support locally led disability rights organizations in disaster-prone areas. Donate unrestricted cash (preferably through organizations with demonstrated capacity for inclusive relief), so that funds can flexibly meet varied needs. Volunteer professional skills—especially in rehabilitation, psychosocial support, inclusive infrastructure design, or community training. Advocate with governments to incorporate disability rights into national disaster management plans, accessibility laws, and response funding.
We all need to promote public awareness about the particular vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities and the need for inclusion, emergency planning, and disaster education. Only this way we can create a world where everyone feels belonged, cared for and respected.
