Semantics of Disability in the Context of Emergency Preparedness and Response

The National Response Framework (NRF) crafted by Congress to authorize preparation and response to disasters in the U.S. acknowledges the importance of addressing the unique attributes of “special needs populations” (SNP) when preparing for and responding to disasters. In practice, SNP seems to have lost its functional value, resulting in overgeneralization and lack of needed specification. It is difficult for disaster preparedness and response officials to determine the specific needs of the various subsets of the population included in the current definition. By using a more refined, segmented approach to addressing the diverse needs of subpopulations included in the NRF's definition of SNPs, authorities could improve planning, training, and operational response pertaining to the various sub-groups. Our work aims to clarify understanding and improve communications by proposing a lexicon of descriptive and functionally useful terms for use in the emergency context as it relates to people with disabilities. We discuss the semantics pertinent to the people with disabilities, and elaborate on various terms including Disability, Chronic Health Condition, Frail Elderly, and Medical Special Needs. We provide critique on the most frequently used terms of reference pertaining to disability and we explain how these terms are used in the emergency context. By refining and elaborating the definition of SNP in consideration of the semantic and contextual bases underlying the definition, disaster preparedness officials and responders can more effectively address the unique needs of various subpopulations included by general reference in the NRF's definition of SNPs.