Disabled people are two to four times more likely to be killed or harmed in disasters. This is a result of systemic inequalities in disaster planning and is entirely avoidable. As emergency and disaster situations escalate due to climate chaos, making sure that Disabled people’s access needs are integral to disaster risk planning becomes evermore essential.

I took part in a ‘craftivism’ project, which drew together a group of Disabled/chronically ill people to create embroidered handkerchiefs to be given as gifts to people with power and influence over how disasters are handled. This is a way to open up conversations through something unexpected, which care has obviously been put into. For Disabled & chronically ill people, it is not always possible to participate in other forms of activism, so craftivism is more accessible to more people. The group met online to work on their hankies together – also breaking down social isolation.

My handkerchief will be delivered to Christopher Chambers, Head of Innovation & Strategy for Avon & Somerset Local Resilience Forum, which coordinates all emergency services for the area and is the most important local body for ensuring that Disabled people’s needs are practically included for when emergencies happen.

The project was set up and run by Emma Geen as part of a project run by the University of Bristol. The phrase ‘Don’t Blow It’ used in my hanky was adopted from Craftivist’s collective project of the same name. See craftivistcollective.wordpress.com