Health Needs of Disabled and Special Needs Individuals in Disasters
Chapter from the book: Beşe, G. G. (ed.) 2026. Disaster Academy: Multidimensional Approaches to Disaster Management.

Şeyma Tosun
Istanbul Health and Social Sciences Vocational School

Synopsis

The aim of this chapter is to emphasize the importance of inclusive and accessible disaster health services by identifying the health needs of individuals with disabilities during disaster processes and the inequalities they experience in accessing healthcare services. Disasters are events that seriously threaten individuals’ lives and health, and they disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities due to physical, sensory, intellectual, and psychosocial limitations. Furthermore, physical, communicational, and structural barriers encountered in accessing healthcare services further increase the health risks of this population during disasters. Therefore, integrating the needs of individuals with disabilities into disaster management plans is critically important for improving health outcomes and reducing the adverse effects of disasters. Within this scope, this chapter will first discuss the concept of disability and theoretical approaches to disability. Subsequently, the health needs of individuals with disabilities and the challenges they face in accessing healthcare services will be evaluated. Finally, healthcare services that should be provided during the pre-disaster, disaster response, and post-disaster periods will be examined from a holistic and inclusive disaster management perspective.

How to cite this book

Tosun, Ş. (2026). Health Needs of Disabled and Special Needs Individuals in Disasters. In: Beşe, G. G. (ed.), Disaster Academy: Multidimensional Approaches to Disaster Management. Özgür Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58830/ozgur.pub1383.c5595

License

Published

July 22, 2026

DOI