From Vulnerability to Capacity Building

It is known that approaches that involve all stakeholders in disaster risk reduction planning and implementation of strategies are successful in developing disaster resilience. Participatory approaches that provide the views of all segments of the society, improve the capacities of individuals, and become part of the solution and implementation should be a priority. However, disaster planning mitigation processes are predominantly based on the planning approach decided by technical experts. The vulnerability and needs of individuals with disabilities or special needs are addressed, but their capacity and capabilities are not considered. Although these individuals want to be in social life in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms, their vulnerability increases even more due to both physical and social barriers. The whole society, especially the families, should be made aware of the capacities and capabilities of individuals with special needs. Social resilience will be ensured by involving individuals with special needs, making them visible, acquiring a profession, developing disaster preparedness capacities, raising awareness and developing sensitive disaster risk management by using participatory planning approach. In this context, in order to develop sensitive national disaster risk mitigation strategies, it is important to create multi-special needs data and to support research studies on the assessment