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ASD Inclusive Research Into Disaster Risk Reduction as an Aspect of Public Planning
Project end date: October 1, 2025
The purpose of the research is to explore the inclusion and exclusion of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Public Policy and Planning with a focus on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Planning and Preparedness at the community level in British Columbia. Adding to the difficulties Persons with Disabilities (PWD) encounter, Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM) professionals generally work on the assumption that Disaster Risk Reduction planning and preparedness must act for those affected, rather than including them. The directive approaches typical of DEM often fail to consider that people may have vulnerabilities and capabilities that can be magnified in emergency situations. Unfortunately, research suggests that emergency management agencies are not prepared to address the diverse needs of PWD and may not even be aware of those needs or their abilities to contribute but have many assumptions that affect planning.
As the research is focused on inclusion of persons with ASD, it will be participatory in nature with the aim of creating new knowledge and that is relevant to the community and the research participants. Therefore, the first step must be the positive act of inclusion in an exploration of inclusion itself, requiring that participants to be contributors rather than subjects. The ideal participant will be an English speaking adult who self-identifies (or has a diagnosis) of ASD and lives in either a rural or urban environment. Participation will consist of engaging in up to 2 unstructured Zoom focus groups, of up to 90 minutes each, and 1-2 individual interviews, of 1 hour each, over the space of about 6 months. The focus groups will discuss inclusion in general and disaster planning in particular. We are interested in your experiences and opinions, so please don’t be shy!
Benefits to participants include the empowerment attendant on having one’s voice heard and influencing change in the community. Benefits for society include the creation of a tool kit that will assist community disaster agencies to facilitate inclusion in their planning and operations. Research into how best to include the neurodiverse in public planning and policy development will create new knowledge that can be utilized to support, not just people with autism, but other marginalized groups and enrich society.
If you are interested in participating, please contact: Bill Sparling at [email protected]
Posted on January 24, 2025