The report identifies a range of critical issues and gaps in the inclusion of people with disability in emergency and disaster management planning and response across federal, state and local levels of government. It makes 20 recommendations designed to ensure that emergency management systems are accessible, inclusive and responsive. 

The recommendations emphasise the need for a more inclusive, accessible and responsive emergency management system that addresses the specific needs of people with disability. By integrating people with disability into all stages of emergency management – from planning and communication to training and response – Australia can create a disaster resilience framework that leaves no one behind. The full report is accompanied by two Easy Read resources: 

• Easy Read: Plan to make things better for people with disability in disasters: about our plan
• Easy Read: A plan to make things better for people with disability in disasters: our recommendations. 

Key recommendations

• Include people with disability and their Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) in the development disaster and emergency management policy and plans, using a co-design process to identify existing gaps and solutions.
• Emergency management systems must prioritise accessibility. This includes ensuring all services provide accessible information in clear, inclusive formats.
• Mandatory inclusion of disability awareness training for emergency management stakeholders.
• Develop plans to ensure early evacuation procedures and emergency shelter facilities meet the needs of people with disability.
• Undertake transport mapping and develop plans for emergency transportation to ensure people with disability can evacuate safely.
• Embed disability representation within national and state emergency management bodies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Management Committees.
• Allocate adequate resourcing to ensure emergency management systems are inclusive.