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Emergency preparedness for disabled people

Inclusive preparedness begins by asking the person what works. Diagnoses alone do not describe practical needs, and disabled people should direct their own plans wherever possible.

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From AidWorkers Humanitarian experience applied at homeEvidence base 4 named sourcesReviewed 25 July 2026

Why this matters

Use a functional approach: communication, mobility, maintaining health, supervision, transport, sensory needs and independence. Record what assistance is wanted, how equipment is used and what should never be done without consent.

Create a support network that does not depend on one person. Share only necessary information, practise transfers or communication methods with consent, and plan for power, lifts, transport and care services to fail.

Before disruption

Prepare now

  • Write a personal emergency plan in the person’s preferred format and words.
  • Label equipment with instructions, ownership and safe transport details where useful.
  • Keep backup medicine, consumables, batteries and charging plans within clinical and legal guidance.
  • Arrange at least two support contacts and accessible transport alternatives.
  • Request accessible alerts and learn the emergency arrangements for home, work, school and care settings.

When it is happening

Protect the next decision

  1. Ask before helping and communicate directly with the person, not only a companion.
  2. Keep mobility, communication, sensory and medical equipment with the user whenever possible.
  3. Explain changes, touch and transfers before they happen and obtain consent.
  4. Report inaccessible evacuation, shelter or information barriers to the responsible authority.

Plan for real people

Access, care and inclusion

  • Plan for hidden, fluctuating and energy-limiting conditions as well as visible disability.
  • Include communication boards, easy-read text, captions, audio, sign language or tactile information as needed.
  • Protect service-animal access, care and identification.
  • Plan for personal assistants and carers to be unavailable, delayed or also affected.

Mental readiness

Protect morale and clear thinking

  • Preserving choice and independence supports mental wellbeing as well as dignity.
  • Keep sensory-regulation tools, familiar routines and preferred communication available.
  • Do not treat a calm pace or extra processing time as refusal to cooperate.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

  • Separating a person from essential equipment, communication or a service animal for convenience.
  • Assuming all people with the same diagnosis need the same help.
  • Publishing private medical details more widely than the emergency requires.

Evidence and review

Sources behind this guide

Prepare Now uses authoritative government, humanitarian and public-health material as a starting point. Source advice can be specific to a country, hazard or date, so check the current version for your location.

Continue preparing

Older people & carersProtect health, medication, mobility, communication, memory, care routines and carer continuity.Evacuation & grab bagsDecide when and how to leave, where to go and what each person can realistically carry.Power & lightingProtect essential devices, use safer light, manage batteries and avoid generator and charging hazards.

Editorial status: first staging edition. Safety-critical instructions will receive specialist and jurisdiction review before public launch.