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Paper short abstract:

The paper aims to share the conceptual and empirical evidence to justify the positive link between a well-functioning Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategy and the well-being of Disabled people. It will show that this link is one of the important determinants of economic growth to reduce poverty.

Paper long abstract:

Disability has become a global issue, as Disabled people are not only discriminated by society but also by policymakers (Häyry & Vehmas, 2015). WHO (2005) report earlier estimated that 14% of the total population of Bangladesh is disabled (Malek, 2010). Therefore, this study has explored the intersectionality of disability with other socioeconomic factors, including land access, gender, and social capital. This study has revealed a wide variety in the experiences and vulnerability of physically disabled people in the context of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) mechanisms and rehabilitation efforts in two different districts in Bangladesh at risk of and in fact subject to frequent cyclone floods. This study has revealed that, contrary to widely held belief, disabled people are not helpless but victims of an inaccessible society. The findings have addressed the implementation gap of policies and programs targeted at the disabled in Bangladesh. Therefore, it has explored the concepts used in the policies developed and the programs introduced to support Disabled people, such as those in Bangladesh, affected by climate change. This study has discussed how the ineffectiveness of DRR policies and services has affected the well-being of persons with disability at risk of disaster and also affected the progress of the national development agenda. This study encourages the policy and practice action points to make effort on solutions to some of the problems identified. This study followed a qualitative research approach and visual data to generate evidence on the current state of implementation of disability-inclusive DRR in Bangladesh.