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Disability and Disaster: An Overview

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Disability and Disaster

Part of the book series: Disaster Studies ((DIS))

Abstract

In most countries, people with disabilities make up between 10 and 20 percent of the population; depending on how disability is classified (WHO, 2011), statistics show 7–10 percent of the world’s population as having disabilities, but it is likely that many remain uncounted, especially among the elderly. In emergencies, people with disabilities may encounter physical barriers, obstacles to communication, and other barriers to accessing essential services. Hence, they may easily suffer greater discrimination, as well as lower levels of protection against disaster, than those offered to people without disabilities.

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Authors

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Ilan Kelman Laura M. Stough

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© 2015 Ilan Kelman and Laura M. Stough

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Alexander, D. (2015). Disability and Disaster: An Overview. In: Kelman, I., Stough, L.M. (eds) Disability and Disaster. Disaster Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137486004_2

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