Approximately one in four persons in the US,(1) and one in six persons worldwide,(2) has a disability. Climate change-related events such as heat waves and wildfires have a disproportionate effect on those of us who are disabled or live with chronic illness.(3) For instance, the death rate for disabled people in some climate change caused disasters is more than double that of non-disabled people.(4) When electricity is cut off, people dependent on ventilators and other medical equipment may die. Smoke and increased airborne particulate are more hazardous for many disabled people.
Much of the negative impact evident during climate-related disasters is due to systemic factors such as inadequate accessible housing. The cost of medical care and limited job opportunities leave many disabled people in poverty and unable to make adequate preparations. Emergency evacuation efforts often leave disabled people behind because they lack access to personal transportation and find that shelters are not accessible.
Disabled people are experts at finding solutions and collaborating in mutual care groups yet find that their knowledge is not sought out by the larger climate change movement.(5) Secular and governmental agency websites offer extensive information about incorporating the needs of people with disabilities into emergency planning and response, however, this advice is not consistently put into practice.
United Methodists are known for effective climate disaster response through Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) early response and long-term recovery teams, but they seldom incorporate disability awareness as a core component of training and action. Climate Justice teams often overlook the fact that there is no climate justice if disability justice is not factored in.(6)
The Disability Ministries Committee of the UMC (DMC)(7) is devoting the July 2025 issue of their newsletter, The VOICE, to exploring the intersection of disability and climate change. The articles will address risks of climate change to disabled people. The issue aims to help agencies and churches include disabled people in all aspects of disaster planning, preparedness, and emergency response and recovery efforts.
For example, planners must ensure that emergency transportation and shelters meet basic accessibility standards. Written and broadcast communication should be written in accessible, non-technical plain language and accompanied by sign language interpretation.(8) Volunteers need to be trained in working effectively with persons who may be blind, Deaf, autistic, or have intellectual disabilities. Examining disaster policies and programs for embedded ableism will reveal points for change.
All of these steps are best implemented by inviting disabled persons into leadership from the beginning. The work of the late Naomi Mitchum offers a prime example of disability wisdom as shown in the Emergency Planning section of her website. She offers practical guidance for developing emergency plans for churches, disabled individuals, and parents of disabled children.(9)
God calls us to love our neighbors and celebrate that all of us are created in the God’s image. Our UM Social Principles call us to respect the rights of persons with disabilities. The DMC calls for full participation of disabled persons who can lead us to develop climate change and disaster response plans that will leave no one behind.
Submitted by Deaconess Lynn Swedberg, disability consultant, Disability Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church
Key Resources and References:
- Disability Impacts All of Us Infographic (7/15/2024) – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/disability-impacts-all-of-us-infographic.html
- Disability Inclusion in Disaster Risk Reduction – United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction https://www.undrr.org/partners-and-stakeholders/disability-inclusion-disaster-risk-reduction
- Climate Change and the Health of People with Disabilities (1/17/2025) – US Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-and-health-people-disabilities
- World Must Act on Unacceptable Failures to Protect Persons with Disabilities from Disasters (10/12/23) – United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction https://www.undrr.org/news/world-must-act-unacceptable-failures-protect-persons-disabilities-disasters
- Digging Deep into the [Disability and Climate Change] Archive with Dr. Julia Watts Belser (05/15/23) Podcast – Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Program (DICARP) https://www.disabilityinclusiveclimate.org/enabling-commons/julia-watts-belser
- Disability Justice is Climate Justice – Sins Invalid https://sinsinvalid.org/disability-justice-is-climate-justice/
- Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church https://www.umcdmc.org/
- Emergency Preparedness and Disability Inclusion (9/11/24) – US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/disability-emergency-preparedness/about/index.html#
- Emergency Planning – Naomi Mitchum https://www.naomimitchum.com/emergency-planning/