Natural Disasters in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review

Year 2025, Issue: 63, 1096 - 1115, 27.03.2025

Serap Doğan Aslan , Elmas Nur İbaoğlu

https://doi.org/10.53444/deubefd.1587863

Abstract

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (IwASD) are vulnerable to natural disasters due to their characteristics such as hypersensitivity to sensory inputs, excessive adherence to routines, difficulty in adapting to changes, problems in social interaction and communication, and cognitive rigidity. Various organizations report that floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes are the most common natural disasters. In the literature, it is seen that experimental, informative, and qualitative studies on natural disasters directly with IwASD and people related to them are limited. This limitation leads to a lack of information on issues such as ensuring the safety of IwASD in the face of natural disasters and how the attitudes and approaches of the people who will work with them should be in the face of disasters. This deficiency can be overcome by analyzing the studies on natural disasters for IwASD. This study aims to provide information to the literature by analyzing the studies on floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes with individuals with ASD. For this purpose, 7 databases were searched with 21 keywords, and 39 studies that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed and classified descriptively. The findings show that the studies in which disaster safety skills are taught to individuals such as parents, teachers, etc. related to IwASD and directly to IwASD are quite limited, and studies that provide information about the situation of these individuals in disasters and the effects of disasters on individuals with ASD are common. In conclusion, experimental and qualitative studies on natural disasters in IwASD should be increased. Detailed information about the findings is discussed.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder, natural disaster, earthquake, flood, hurricane, vulnerability

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethics committee approval.

Supporting Institution

No institution or organization is supporting this study.

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu Olan Bireyler ve Doğal Afetler: Bir Kapsam İncelemesi

Abstract

Otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB) olan bireyler sosyal etkileşim ve iletişimde güçlükler, duyusal girdilere aşırı hassasiyet, rutinlere aşırı bağlılık, değişikliklere uyumlanmada zorluk ve bilişsel katılık gibi özellikleri nedenleriyle doğal afetlere karşı savunmasızdırlar. Doğal afetler içerisinde en sık rastlanan ve en yüksek ölümle sonuçlanan ilk üç doğal afetin sel, kasırga ve deprem olduğu çeşitli saygın kuruluşlarca raporlanmaktadır. Alanyazında doğrudan OSB olan bireylerle ve onlarla ilişkili kişilerle doğal afetler konusunda yapılan tam ve yarı deneysel, bilgilendirici ve nitel çalışmaların sınırlı olduğu görülmektedir. Bu sınırlılık, OSB olan bireylerin doğal afetler karşısında neleri nasıl yaşayabilecekleri, güvenliklerini sağlamak için neler yapılması ve onlarla çalışacak kişilerin afetler karşısında tutum ve yaklaşımlarının nasıl olması gerektiği gibi konularda bilgi eksikliğini doğurmaktadır. Bu eksiklik OSB olan bireylere doğal afetlere ilişkin yapılan araştırmaların ele alınması ve mevcut durumun özetlenmesi ve analiziyle giderilebilir. Bu araştırmanın amacı OSB olan bireylerle sel, kasırga, deprem konusunda yapılan çalışmaları analiz ederek alanyazına bilgi sunmaktır. Bu amaçla 7 veri tabanında 21 anahtar sözcükle tarama yapılmış, dahil etme ölçütlerine uyan 37 çalışma incelenmiş ve betimsel olarak sınıflandırılmıştır. Bulgular; OSB olan bireylerle ilişkili ebeveynler, öğretmenler, terapistler gibi kişilere ve doğrudan OSB olan bireylere afet güvenliği becerilerinin öğretildiği çalışmaların oldukça sınırlı olduğunu, bu bireylerin afetlerdeki durumu ve afetlerin OSB olan bireylere etkisine ilişkin bilgi veren çalışmaların yaygın olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, OSB olan bireylerde doğal afet konusunda uygulamalı ve nitel çalışmaların artırılması, OSB ve doğal afetler konusundaki araştırmaların multidisipliner anlayışla planlanması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

Otizm spektrum bozukluğu, doğal afet, savunmasızlık, deprem, sel, kasırga

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma etik kurul izni gerektirmemektedir.

Supporting Institution

Bu çalışmayı destekleyen bir kurum ya da kuruluş bulunmamaktadır.

References

• American Psychiatric Assosiation. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM5 (Fifth). American Psychiatry Association.
• Arcaya, M., Raker, E. J., & Waters, M. C. (2020). The social consequences of disasters: Individual and community change. Annual Review of Sociology, 46(1), 671691. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-121919-054827
• Ashenfelter, S. (2022). Teachers of autistic middle school student’s perspective on disability inclusive emergency planning. [Doctoral Dissertation]. Capella University.
• Asher, A. & Pollak, J. R. (2009). Planning emergency evacuations for students with unique needs: Role of occupational therapy. Ot Practice, 14(21), 18.
• Asher, A., Estes, J., Allender, S., Ferguson, M., Schoen, M., & Villarosa, G. (2024). Safety of students with disabilities in emergency situations. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 17(1), 97119. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2022.2156421
• Autism Speaks. (2024). Autism speaks natural disaster resources. https://www.autismspeaks.org/autismspeaksnaturaldisasterresources adresinden 03.06.2024 tarihinde alınmıştır.
• Barnes, J. M. (2013). School disaster needs for students with disabilities: Voices from the field. [Doctoral Dissertation]. University of California.
• Barton Hulsey, A., Boesch, M. C., Chung, Y., Caswell, T., Sonntag, A. M., & Quach, W. (2024). Emergency and disaster preparedness for ındividuals who use augmentative and alternative communication: A pilot study on supported planning using a toolkit. American Journal of SpeechLanguage Pathology, 33, 1632. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP2300086
• Blanc, J., Eugen, D., Louis, E. F., Cadichon, J. M., Joseph, J., Pierre, A., Laine, R., Alexandre, M., & Huang, K. (2020). Mental health among children older than 10 years exposed to the Haiti 2010 Earthquake: a critical review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 22(57), 113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920020011789
• Boon, H. J., Brown, L. H., Tsey, K., Speare, R., Paliano, P., Usher, K., & Clark, B. (2011). School disaster planning for children with disabilities: A critical review of the literature. International Journal of Special Education, 26(3), 223-237.
• Cannon, T. (2014). Vulnerability and disasters. The Companion to Development Studies, 51(3), 370-382. Chen, Y., Ma, K., Lee, M., & Chuang, M. (2022). Earthquake response for students with different severe degrees of disabilities: An ınvestigation of the special education classes in primary schools in Taipei. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148750
• Cohen Silver, J. H., Muskat, B., & Ratnapalan, S. (2014). Autism in the Emergency Department. Clinical Pediatrics, 53(12), 11341138. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922814540983
• Chou, Y. J., Huang, N., Lee, C. H., Tsai, S. L., Chen, L. S., & Chang, H. J. (2004). Who is at risk of death in an earthquake?. American Journal of Epidemiology, 160(7), 688695. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwh270
• CRED (2023). 2023 Disasters in numbers. https://files.emdat.be/reports/2023_EMDAT_report.pdf adresinden 02.06.2024 tarihinde alınmıştır.
• Crumrine, D. (2006). Teaching safety skills to children with autism spectrum disorders: A comparison of strategies. [Master Thesis]. Wichita State University.
• Dixon, D. R., Bergstrom, R., Smith, M. N., &Tarbox, J. (2010). A review of research on procedures for teaching safety skills to persons with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31(5), 985994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2010.03.007
• Doğan, S. (2023). Doğal afetlere karşı güvenlik. N. G. Özler (Ed.) Gelişimsel yetersizliği olan bireylerde güvenlik becerileri içinde (s. 227278). Nobel yayıncılık.
• Doğan Aslan, S. (2024). Exposure to the earthquake with a child with autism: A qualitative study on parenting experiences. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 113, 104850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104850
• Edinger, Z. S., Powers, K. A., Jordan, K. S., & Callaway, D. W. (2019). Evaluation of an online educational intervention to increase knowledge and selfefficacy in disaster responders and critical care transporters caring for individuals with developmental disabilities. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 13(4), 677681. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2018.129
• Edmonds, C. O. (2017). Designing emergency preparedness resources for children with autism. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 64(4), 404419. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2016.1264577
• Fjord, L., & Manderson, L. (2009). Anthropological perspectives on disasters and disability: An introduction. Human organization, 68(1), 64-72
• Fino, R., Lin, M. J., Caballero, A., & Balahadia, F. F. (2017). Disaster awareness simulation for children with autism spectrum disorder using android virtual reality. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering, 9, 26.
• Fonseca, L. A. (2022). Emergency prepardeness: Perceptions of people with disabilities. [Doctoral Dissertation]. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
• Gönen, Ö. F., Çavuşoğlu, T., & Kurnaz, E. (2024). Medical rescue team’s experiences in disaster response to individuals with special needs: The case of Türkiye. Natural Hazards, 120, 18411867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069023062737
• Gu, Danan (2019). Exposure and vulnerability to natural disasters for world's cities. United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, Population Division, Technical Paper No. 4.
• Güler Aksu, G., & İmrek, Y. (2023). The earthquake disaster in Türkiye: A review from child and adolescent psychiatry perspective. Düzce Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 25(1), 614. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1271852
• Hidalgo, J., & Baez, A. A. (2019). Natural disasters. Critical Care Clinics, 35(4), 591607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2019.05.001
• Hipper, T. J., Davis, R., Massey, P. M., Turchi, R. M., Lubell, K. M., Pechta, L. E., Rose, D. A., Wolkin, A., Briseño, L., Franks, J. L., & Chernak, E. (2018). The disaster ınformation needs of families of children with special healthcare needs: A scoping review. Health Security, 16(3), 178192. https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2018.0007
• Hoffman, S. (2008). Preparing for disaster: Protecting the most vulnerable in emergencies. UC Davis L. Rev., 42, 1491.
• Indriasari, F. N., Daniyati, P. K., & Widyarani, L. (2018). Disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness for children with autism in facing earthquake disaster in Yogyakarta. JMMR (Jurnal Medicoeticolegal dan Manajemen Rumah Sakit), 7(1), 5259. https://doi.org/10.18196/jmmr.7156
• Kawasaki, H., Cui, Z., Kurokawa, M., & Sonai, K. (2023). Current situation of disaster preparedness for effective response in Japanese special needs schools. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 17, 17. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2023.98
• Kerns, C. M., Newschaffer, C. J., & Berkowitz, S. J. (2015). Traumatic childhood events and autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 34753486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s108030152392y
• Kimura, M. (2020). Negative social interactions and coping behaviors: experiences of Japanese mothers caring for children with special needs in disaster areas. BMC Research Notes, 13(247), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104020050871
• King, S., Kielda, S., Austin, M., Brunet, A., Cobham, V. E., Dawson, P. A., Harris, M., Hurrion, E. M., Laplante, D. P., McDermott, B., McIntyre, H. D., O’Hara, M. W., Schmitz, N., Stapleton, H., Tracy, S. K., Vaillantcourt, C., Dancause, K. N., Kruske, S., Reily, N.,…Ping, E. Y. (2015). QF2011: A protocol to study the effects of the Queensland flood on pregnant women, their pregnancies, and their children's early development. BMC Pregnancy and Child birth, 15(109), 124. https://doi.org/10.1186/s1288401505397
• Kinney, D. K., Miller, A. M., Crowley, D. J., Huang, E., & Gerber, E. (2008). Autism prevalence following prenatal exposure to hurricanes and tropical storms in Louisiana. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 481488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1080300704140
• Kuran, C. H. A., Morsut, C., Kruke, B. I., Krüger, M., Segnestam, L., Orru, K., Nævestad, T. O., Airola, M., Keränen, J., Gabel, F., Hansson, S., & Torpan, S. (2020). Vulnerability and vulnerable groups from an intersectionality perspective. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 50, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101826
• Kurt, O., Cevher, Z., & Kutlu, M. (2024). Effectiveness of video modeling in teaching earthquake and post-earthquake evacuation safety skills for children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 57, 331340. https://dooi.org/10.1002/jaba.1057
• Kwolek, H. A., Bray, A., Bunyea, A. M., DeMaio, E., Bray, M., & OttoneCross, K. (2022). Assessment of students with autism spectrum disorder for emergency response planning. Psychology in the Schools, 59, 12821294. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22625
• Laplante, D. P. , Simcock, G., CaoLei, L., Mouallem, M., Elgbeili, G., Brunet, A., Cobham, V., Kildea, S., & King, S. (2019). The 5HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene and child’s sex moderate the relationship between disaster-related prenatal maternal stress and autism spectrum disorder traits: The QF2011 Queensland flood study. Development and Psychopathology, 31(4), 13951409. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579418000871
• Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O'brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(69), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/17485908569
• Li, X., Laplante, D. P., Elgbeili, G., & King, S. (2023). Preconception and prenatal maternal stress are associated with broad autism phenotype in young adults: Project Ice Storm. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 14(4), 19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S2040174423000156
• Li, X., Qureshi, M. N. I., Laplante, D. P., Elgbeili, G., Jones, S. L., Long, X., Paquin, V., Bezgin, G., Lussier, F., King, S., & Rosa Neto, P. (2023). Atypical brain structure and function in young adults exposed to disaster-related prenatal maternal stress: Project Ice Storm. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 101, 18491863. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jnr.25246
• Li, X., Qureshi, M. N. I., Laplante, D. P., Elgbeili, G., Paquim, V., Jones, S. L., King, S., & RosaNeto, P. (2024). Decreased amygdala sensorimotor connectivity mediates the association between prenatal stress and broad autism phenotype in young adults: Project Ice Storm. Stress, 27(1), 110. https://doi.org/10.1080/10253890.2023.2293698
• Mann, M., McMillan, J. E., Silver, E., & Stein, R. E. K. (2021). Children and adolescents with disabilities and exposure to disasters, terrorism, and the COVID‑19 pandemic: a scoping review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 23(80), 112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1192002101295z
• Maurice, J. (2013). Mitigating disasters a promising start. The Lancet, 381(9878), 16111613. https://doi.org/10.1016/S01406736(13)610089
• National Association of School Psychologists. (2020). School safety drills and exercises for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Tips and resources for educators. https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climatesafety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/school-safety-drills-and-exercises-forstudents-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-(asd)-tips-and-resources-for-educators
• Olcay, S., Oğur, Ç., & Saral, D. (2024). Teaching earthquake preparedness skills to students with developmental disabilities: A preliminary evaluation. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 62(1), 5973. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934955662.1.59.
• Palmer, C. A., Bahn, A., Deutchman, D., Bower, J. L., Weems, C. F., & Alfanor, C. A. (2023). Sleep disturbances and delayed sleep timing are associated with greater post traumatic stress symptoms in youth following hurricane Harvey. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 54, 15341545. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1057802201359y
• Peek, L., & Stough, L. M. (2010). Children with disabilities in the context of disaster: A social vulnerability perspective. Child Development, 81(4), 12601270. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.14678624.2010.01466.x
• Person, C., & Fuller, E. J. (2007). Disaster care for persons with psychiatric disabilities. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 17(4), 238248. https://doi.org/10.1177/10442073070170040701
• Peters, M. D., Marnie, C., Tricco, A. C., Pollock, D., Munn, Z., Alexander, L., ... & Khalil, H. (2021). Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Implementation, 19(1), 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1097/XEB.0000000000000277
• Pyke, C., & Wilton, R. (2020). Planning for inclusion? An assessment of Ontario’s emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 51, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101888
• Quast., T., Gregory, S., & Storch, E. A. (2018). Utilization of mental health services by children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Psychiatric Services, 69(5), 580586. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201700281
• Rehan, S. T., Ahmed, M., Bukhsh, A. N., Bari, K., ul Hussasin, H., Ullah, I., & Asgar, M. S. (2023). Heavy migration of flood affectees in Pakistan and increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in children: a call to action. International Journal of Surgery, 109(3), 313315. https://doi.org/10.1097/js9.0000000000000136
• Reichow, B., Doehring, P., Cicchetti, D. V., & Volkmar, F. R. (Eds.). (2011). Evidence based practices and treatments for children with autism. Springer Science Business Media, LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/9781441969750
• Revell, K. T. (2020). Accommodating special needs populations in disaster management: The case of children with autism spectrum disorder. C. Connolly Knox ve B. Haupt (Ed.) Cultural competency for emergency and crisis management içinde. Taylor & Francis.
• Ronoh, S., Gaillard, J. C., & Marlowe J. (2015). Children with disabilities and disaster risk reduction: A review. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 6, 3848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1375301500429
• Saulnier, D. D., & Brolin, K. (2015). A systematic review of the health effects of prenatal exposure to disaster. International Journal of Public Health, 60, 781787. https://doi.org/10.1007/s0003801506992
• Scarpinato, N., Bradley, J., Kurbjun, K., Bateman, X., Holtzer, B., & Ely, B. (2010). Caring for the child with an autism spectrum disorder in the acute care setting. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 15(3), 244-254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2957-4
• Self, T., Scudder, R. R., Weheba, G., & Crumrine, D. (2007). A virtual approach to teaching safety skills children with autism spectrum disorder. Topics in Language Disorders, 27(3), 242253. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.TLD.0000285358.33545.79
• Sheehy, K., Vackova, P., van Manen, S., Turnip, S. S., Rofiah, K., & Twiner, A. (2022). Inclusive disaster risk reduction education for Indonesian children. International Journal Of Inclusive Education, 117. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2022.2115156
• Simcock, G., Kildea, S., Elgbeili, G., Laplante, D. P., Cobham, V., & King, S. (2017). Prenatal maternal stress shapes children’s theory of mind: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 8(4), 110. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174417000186
• Simpson, R. L. (2005). Evidence based practices and students with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 20(3), 140149. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576050200030201
• Statista (2024). Number of natural disasters worldwide in 2023, by type. https://www.statista.com/statistics/269653/naturaldisastersonthecontinentsbynatureofthedisaster/
• Stough, L. M., McAdams Ducy, E., & Kang, D. (2017). Addressing the needs of children with disabilities experiencing disaster or terrorism. Current Psychiatry Report, 19(4), 110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1192001707768
• Sullivan, P. M., & Knutson, J. F. (2000). Maltreatment and disabilities: A population based epidemiological study. Child abuse & Neglect, 24(10), 12571273. https://doi.org/10.1016/S01452134(00)001903
• Sudaryo, M., Endarti, B. A. T., Rivany, R., Phalkey, R., Marx, M., & GuhaSapir, D. Injury, disability and quality of life after the 2009 earthquake in Padang, Indonesia: a prospective cohort of adult survivors. Global Health Action, 5, 1181632. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v5i0.11816
• Tierney, K. (2019). Disasters: A sociological approach. Medford, MA: Polity Press.
• Tin, D., Cheng, L., Le, D., Hata, R., & Ciottone, G. (2024). Natural disasters: A comprehensive study using EMDAT database 1995-2022. Public health, 226, 255-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.11.017
• Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O'Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., ... & Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMAScR): checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169(7), 467473. https://doi.org/10.7326/M180850
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2017). Disaster. https://www.preventionweb.net/terminology/disaster
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2023). 2022 Global natural disaster assessment report. https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/2022globalnaturaldisasterassessmentreport
• United Nations, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (2021). The Shaping of disability inclusive employment in Asia and the Pacific. United Nations ESCAP. https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/knowledge products/DAG2021Final.pdf
• Valenti, M., na Ciprietti, T., di Egidio, C., Gabrielli, M., Masedu, F., Tomassini, A. R., & Sorge, G. (2012). Adaptive response of children and adolescents with autism to the 2009 earthquake in L’aquila, Italy. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(6), 945-960. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s1080301113239
• Valenti, M., La Malfa, G., Tomassini, A., Masedu, F., Tiberti, S., & Sorge, G. (2014). Burnout among therapists working with persons with autism after the 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy: a longitudinal comparative study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 21(3), 234-240. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12054
• Walder, D. J., Laplante, D. P., SousaPires, A., Veru, F., Brunet, A., & King, S. (2014). Prenatal maternal stress predicts autism traits in 6½ year old children: Project Ice Storm. Psychiatry Research, 219(2), 353-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.04.034
• WHO. Vulnerability and vulnerable populations. Community disaster risk management. https://wkc.who.int/ourwork/healthemergencies/knowledgehub/communitydisasterriskmanagement/vulnerabilityandvulnerablepopulations.
• Wilton, R., & Pyke, C. (2020). Planning for ınclusion? An assessment of Ontario’s emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities. International Journal of Risk Reduction, 51(1), 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101888
• Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T., & Davis, I. (2003). At Risk: Natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters. Second edition.
• Wolf Fordham, S., Curtin, C., Maslin, M., Bandini, L., & Hamad, C. D. (2015). Emergency preparedness of families of children with developmental disabilities: What public health and safety emergency planners need to know. Journal of Emergency Management, 13(1), 718. https://doi.org/:10.5055/jem.2015.0213
• Zallar, J. (2021). Evaluating disaster evacuation plans of families with special medical needs (smn) in the Rio Grande Valley: A proposal for providing a special need disaster shelter. [Master Thesis]. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.