Emergency preparedness curriculum led by persons with psychosocial disabilities

Led by people with psychosocial disabilities, Porque ran 30+ workshops (2023–mid-2025) training 2,000 people (1,600 with disabilities). It created a 21-step Inclusive Preparedness Checklist, 1,000+ downloads, and guidance used in three municipal manuals.

Porque, the Organization of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities, based in Tokyo, is an NGO working nationally to improve disaster preparedness for people with psychosocial disabilities. Its project Disability-led Disaster Preparedness has developed guidelines like the “Inclusive Preparedness Checklist”, checklists, and educational videos as free downloads, and also conducts workshops. By mid-2025 more than 30 workshops have reached over 2,000 people, including some 200 government officials.

Problems Targeted

Conventional disaster preparedness in Japan often fails to address the unique needs of people with psychosocial disabilities.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Disability-led Inclusive Disaster Preparedness Based on the Lived Experiences of People with Psychosocial Disabilities focuses on disaster preparedness and response planning based on the perspectives of people with psychosocial disabilities and is also led by them. Porque has conducted extensive research, including interviews and workshops with people with psychosocial disabilities and their support staff. Based on these findings, the organization has developed guidelines, checklists, and educational videos to promote comprehensive disaster risk reduction. The “Inclusive Preparedness Checklist,” for example, sets out 21 steps ranging from stockpiling medication to establishing private spaces in shelters. By 2025 more than 1,000 downloads of Porque’s materials had been recorded on its website. Porque also holds workshops covering topics such as preparing for the immediate aftermath of a disaster, managing daily life during evacuation, communicating about individual disabilities (including how to request reasonable adjustments), adapting shelters, and preparing for everyday situations, including providing tailored emergency supplies. From 2023 to mid-2025 over 30 workshops were attended by 2,000 people, 1,600 of whom reported having disabilities. Participants also included 200 local government officers and 120 public health staff.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

By 2025, Porque had raised $20,000 from foundations, $8,000 from the loan and donation of educational materials, and $40,000 in contract fees for stakeholder-led research. Tools have spread across prefectures in Japan, with pilots and collaborations growing. (#ZeroCall26)

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