Beyond tokenism, toward resilience: furthering a paradigmatic shift from intersecting narratives of disaster and disability realities in East Java, Indonesia

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic and disability characteristics of participants.

Participant	Gender	Age	Type of impairment(s)	Disaster experience	Place of residence
Participant 1	Male	27	Physical disability	Flooding and earthquake disasters	Surabaya
Participant 2	Female	41	Sensory (visual) disability	Flooding disaster	Malang
Participant 3	Male	62	Compounding disabilities (physical and medical condition)	Earthquake and fire disasters	Kediri
Participant 4	Female	53	Physical disability	Flooding and fire disasters	Jember
Participant 5	Male	25	Medical condition	Flooding disasters	Banyuwangi
Participant 6	Female	33	Compounding disabilities (sensory and physical)	Earthquake disaster	Blitar
Participant 7	Male	29	Sensory (hearing) disability	Fire disaster	Malang
Participant 8	Female	47	Physical disability	Flooding and earthquake disasters	Surabaya
Participant 9	Male	59	Sensory (visual) disability	Earthquake disaster	Pasuruan
Participant 10	Female	42	Physical disability	Flooding and fire disasters	Probolinggo
Participant 11	Male	68	Physical disability	Earthquake disaster	Surabaya
Participant 12	Female	55	Sensory (visual) disability	Flooding disaster	Sidoarjo
Participant 13	Male	26	Physical disability	Flooding and fire disasters	Jombang
Participant 14	Female	61	Sensory (hearing) disability	Flooding and earthquake disasters	Mojokerto
Participant 15	Male	52	Physical disability	Earthquake and fire disasters	Malang
Participant 16	Female	37	Compounding disabilities (physical and mental condition)	Flooding disaster	Pasuruan
Participant 17	Male	44	Physical disability	Flooding and earthquake disasters	Surabaya

Table 2. Interview questions.

Area of focus	Questions
Previous disaster encounters	Can you describe your experiences dealing with disasters that have impacted your community in the past?
	How did you get information and alerts about the emergency unfolding? Were those communication methods accessible to you?
Accessibility challenges	What major obstacles or barriers did you confront regarding communication, mobility, transportation, infrastructure or securing essential medical services during the disaster?
	Were you able to safely evacuate and access emergency shelters and facilities? What specific challenges did you face?
	(Probe) Could you describe examples of infrastructure or services that were inaccessible or posed risks to you, and how those could be improved?
Interactions with emergency services	Can you describe your interactions with first responders and governmental/organizational emergency relief services during the disasters you endured?
	How responsive were emergency personnel and volunteers to your specific access requirements as a person with disabilities?
	(Probe) In what ways did formal emergency responses overlook or fail to address your needs?
Disaster preparation	How prepared did you feel to handle the risks and challenges of the disaster situations you endured based on available resources and support systems?
	What further disability-inclusive planning or protocols would have helped mitigate some of the struggles you confronted?
Perspectives on inclusion	What recommendations or advice would you offer governmental organizations and emergency planners to make disaster management approaches more accessible and responsive to people with disabilities?
	How can your expertise and experiences dealing with disabilities in disaster contexts contribute to planning improved strategies in the future?

Table 3. Documentation catalog of disaster/disability-related records.

Area	Documents (source reference)	Details	Challenges and debates	Potential solutions/recommendations
Organizational initiatives	BNPB (2020) District Capability Assessments (Bandung, Kulon Progo, others) Regulation of BNPB No. 14/2014 ASB Indonesia Report on Disability Inclusion in Disaster Management	BNPB plans mention integrating disability but lack concrete implementation strategies. Some districts acknowledge disability needs but lack dedicated action plans. Regulation provides framework but enforcement and monitoring are weak. NGOs such as ASB Indonesia advocate for inclusion but face limited reach and funding.	Inadequate resources and expertise for disability-inclusive planning. Lack of coordination and collaboration among stakeholders. Limited awareness and understanding of disability needs among disaster personnel. Dependence on external funding for NGO initiatives.	Allocate dedicated funding for disability-inclusive programs. Build capacity through training and technical assistance for government and NGOs. Improve data collection and monitoring of disability inclusion efforts. Establish clear guidelines and standards for inclusive disaster plans, developed in consultation with DPOs.
Action plans	Kulon Progo District Action Plan for Disability Inclusion (2023–2025) Indonesia’s National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (latest)	Kulon Progo has a dedicated action plan with specific measures for disability inclusion. National action plan lacks concrete measures and timelines for implementation.	Policy implementation gaps hinder effective disability inclusion. Difficulty translating national policies into local action plans. Lack of accountability mechanisms for ensuring disability inclusion.	Develop national action plans with measurable targets and indicators relevant to disability needs. Provide technical support and funding to districts for implementing disability-inclusive action plans. Strengthen monitoring and evaluation with indicators that track progress toward achieving disability inclusion goals. Hold government agencies accountable for achieving disability inclusion goals.
Legislation	Law No. 24/2007 on Disaster Management Indonesia’s Ratification of the UNCRPD (2011) UNDP Assessment of Indonesia’s DRR Efforts	Existing disaster management law lacks specific provisions for disability inclusion. UNCRPD ratification creates obligations, but legal framework needs harmonization. UNDP report highlights gaps between legislation and implementation.	Insufficient legal framework for enforcing disability rights in disaster situations. Gaps between national legislation and local implementation. Lack of awareness and understanding of legal obligations regarding disability inclusion.	Harmonize national disaster management legislation with the UNCRPD and Sendai Framework principles. Enact specific laws and regulations on disability inclusion in disaster management. Develop clear legal guidelines for accessible emergency response and evacuation procedures. Raise awareness and understanding of disability rights and legal obligations among government officials and disaster personnel.
Funding	BNPB Internal Report on Resource Allocation ASB Indonesia Report on Funding Mechanisms for DRR	Limited government funding for disability-inclusive initiatives in disaster management. Reliance on external donors and NGOs for funding is unsustainable and creates uncertainty.	Inadequate financial resources hinder comprehensive disability inclusion efforts. Lack of sustainable funding mechanisms for long-term programs.	Increase government funding for disability-inclusive programs. Develop innovative financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and social impact bonds. Allocate portions of emergency response budgets for disability-specific needs. Build capacity for fundraising and resource mobilization within NGOs and DPOs.
Challenges and debates	DPO Report on Discrimination in Disaster Management District Assessments on Accessibility NGO Report on Communication in Disaster Preparedness BNPB Report on Emergency Response	Stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities remain prevalent. Lack of accessible evacuation shelters, emergency services and information. Difficulty identifying and reaching persons with disabilities during emergencies.	Address stigma and discrimination through awareness campaigns and educational programs. Improve accessibility of disaster preparedness resources and information in multiple formats. Invest in accessible communication technologies and trained sign language interpreters. Strengthen community-based early warning systems that reach and engage persons with disabilities. Provide targeted training for disaster personnel on responding to the specific needs of persons with disabilities.

BNPB. (2020). BNPB strategic plan for 2020-2024. https://bnpb.go.id/rencana-strategis-bnpb-tahun-2020-2024.

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