Disaster Recovery for people with a disability across the lifespan: a scoping review

Disaster Recovery for people with a disability across the lifespan: a scoping review

Lead researcher: Lisa Gibbs
Child & Community Wellbeing Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
Team members: Dana Young, Anne Kavanagh, Mary Sayers
Partner organisation: Children and Young People with Disability Australia

This project aims to conduct a rapid review of the literature regarding the disaster recovery experience and needs of people with a disability, looking at the specific needs across age groups and life stages. In previous epidemics, disasters and major hazard events existing health, social and economic inequalities have worsened. The evidence also tells us that a significant number of affected people will have extended mental health, emotional and social difficulties, and this will be disproportionately felt by people with disabilities. A recent survey found due to COVID-19 families of a child with a disability are already experiencing negative impacts on child education, access to support workers and NDIS funding with reported mental health & wellbeing worsening overtime (CYDA, April 2020). The proposed scoping review will contribute to supporting this at-risk group by generating evidence-informed best practice recommendations.