School disaster preparedness for children with access and functional needs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Education Policy
• Disaster Management

Background:

• California has over 820,000 children with access and functional needs (CAFN) aged 3-18.
• CAFN prevalence increased from 7.4% to 8.6% in 3 years, necessitating improved disaster planning.
• Climate change and inequality exacerbate disaster risks for CAFN, especially those with intersecting identities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adequacy of current disaster mitigation strategies for CAFN in schools.
• To identify specific gaps in policies and protocols for CAFN during emergencies.
• To develop policy recommendations for enhanced support of CAFN students.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing interview data from high school teaching staff.
• Thematic analysis of feedback using Atlas.ti software.
• Development of policy recommendations based on identified gaps.

Main Results:

• Existing school disaster mitigation strategies for CAFN are insufficient.
• Identified critical gaps in systems, mental health preparedness, and awareness.
• Teaching staff expressed concerns about post-pandemic pressures and policy deficiencies.

Conclusions:

• Extensive policy reform is needed to support CAFN students in preparing for short- and long-term disasters.
• Policy recommendations aim to enhance academic success, emotional well-being, and safety for CAFN.
• Promoting an equitable educational landscape for CAFN students is a key outcome.