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This publication provides an overview of the state of the art in emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction for people with disabilities. It asks whether an adequate level of resilience has been achieved by and on behalf of people with disabilities. The publication shows that there is much potential to improve emergency preparedness for people with disabilities, and the arguments for doing so are indisputable.

The publication recommends that member States of the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement:

• Integrate specialised measures for people with disabilities into national disaster risk reduction policies, planning processes, training curricula and emergency response practice, favouring, as appropriate, investment in longterm strategies that would reduce the vulnerability and exposure to disaster of people with disabilities; 
• Design and promote national programmes and standards for the protection, rescue and care of people with disabilities when and where they are at risk of disaster; 
• Design and promote measures at the community level through local administrations and civil protection services, making use of local organisations that provide care and representation to people with disabilities.