"Research is very important to us all. It would be hard to create knew knowledge and develop society and change it to the better without research," says Ásta Jóhannsdóttir, assistant professor at the University of Iceland's School of Education. These words are not surprising coming from Ásta as she takes keen interest the societal impact of research.
Ásta is currently leading an extensive study with Kristín Björnsdóttir, professor at the University's School of Education, entitled Disability in the times of pandemic funded by Rannís (the Icelandic Centre for Research). A part of the research was mapping the situation of disabled people in the times of disasters and pointing out ways to improve their situation. This data was a basis for an article that was published in the peer reviewed magazine "Íslenska þjóðfélagið" (Icelandic Society). There are two main principles in the article according to Ásta. On the one hand to provide an international overview of disasters, responses to them and their consequences for disabled people and on the other to analyse the Department of Civil Protection's emergency response plans with a view to disabled people.
"We did this by analysing how disability was intersected with other socio-political factors that influence the marginalisation of disabled people," says Ásta.
Disabled people left behind or not included
Ásta says that the Covid-19 pandemic sparked the idea for the article. "We conduct our research with disabled people, which is why we chose to look at this disaster and the impact on this group during the pandemic. We quickly realised how the marginalisation of groups increases and becomes more visible in disasters like Covid-19."
When asked about the results Ásta says that the extensive research project is still ongoing so there are no results as of yet. "However, in the smaller project we wrote about in our article the results are clear. Socio-political factors such as disability, class and gender greatly impact how the disaster affects us."
Ásta says that society's ableism is revealed in disasters and their aftermath, and disabled people have been left behind or not included. "Violence also increases in disaster, which is also the case here in Iceland, as reports on domestic violence have increased during the pandemic."
Ásta points out that the emergency response plan from the Department of Civil Protection does not mention disabled people, "whereas various groups; such as the Association of Icelandic Farmers, the Public Roads Administration are included. The absence of a group from public records can provide information on its status. Icelandic legislation on service to disabled people with long-standing needs for service and support, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stipulate specifically the obligations of public institution to engage in systematic consultation with people with disabilities. When consultation with disabled people in the making of emergency response plans and guidelines concerning pandemics is lacking, the response is often not useful to them. There is a strong tendency for lack of consultation with disabled people and the ableism in emergency response plans worldwide, not only here in Iceland," says Ásta.
Results can be used to review emergency response plans
Ásta says that if we use these results to review emergency response plans and to follow the law on consultation with disabled people, the study will have considerable societal impact.
"To shed light on the marginalisation and increased threat to the life of disabled people in disasters has great scientific value for critical disability studies, as their aim is to have a positive societal impact and improve the lives of marginalised groups."
Ásta says that the connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goals is clear. "Yes I see a strong connection to the SDGs. The first goals is no poverty, and disasters and pandemics can increase poverty of marginalised groups. It is thus important to examine if this has happened here. Goal 3 - Good health and well-being obviously applies, and we need to map out the impact of the pandemic on the health and well-being of disabled people. Goals five and ten - gender equality and reduced inequalities are also guiding lights in our study as we want to reduce inequalities and bring us closer to equality. The goals on peace and justice, number sixteen also applies as disasters and pandemics can jeopardize both, and are by no means a minor point.
Ásta says that if we use these results to review emergency response plans and to follow the law on consultation with disabled people, the study will have considerable societal impact.
"To shed light on the marginalisation and increased threat to the life of disabled people in disasters has great scientific value for critical disability studies, as their aim is to have a positive societal impact and improve the lives of marginalised groups."
Ásta says that society's ableism is revealed in disasters and their aftermath, and disabled people have been left behind or not included. "Violence also increases in disaster, which is also the case here in Iceland, as reports on domestic violence have increased during the pandemic."
Ásta points out that the emergency response plan from the Department of Civil Protection does not mention disabled people, "whereas various groups; such as the Association of Icelandic Farmers, the Public Roads Administration are included. The absence of a group from public records can provide information on its status. Icelandic legislation on service to disabled people with long-standing needs for service and support, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stipulate specifically the obligations of public institution to engage in systematic consultation with people with disabilities. When consultation with disabled people in the making of emergency response plans and guidelines concerning pandemics is lacking, the response is often not useful to them. There is a strong tendency for lack of consultation with disabled people and the ableism in emergency response plans worldwide, not only here in Iceland," says Ásta.
Results can be used to review emergency response plans
Ásta says that if we use these results to review emergency response plans and to follow the law on consultation with disabled people, the study will have considerable societal impact.
"To shed light on the marginalisation and increased threat to the life of disabled people in disasters has great scientific value for critical disability studies, as their aim is to have a positive societal impact and improve the lives of marginalised groups."
Ásta says that the connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goals is clear. "Yes I see a strong connection to the SDGs. The first goals is no poverty, and disasters and pandemics can increase poverty of marginalised groups. It is thus important to examine if this has happened here. Goal 3 - Good health and well-being obviously applies, and we need to map out the impact of the pandemic on the health and well-being of disabled people. Goals five and ten - gender equality and reduced inequalities are also guiding lights in our study as we want to reduce inequalities and bring us closer to equality. The goals on peace and justice, number sixteen also applies as disasters and pandemics can jeopardize both, and are by no means a minor point.