Inclusive Emergency Planning: Guide for Addressing the Needs of Visually and Physically Impaired Individuals
Vaarula, Tommy Olavi Joonatan (2023)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023122138941
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023122138941
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis is to develop a guide with two parts for emergency safety that consider visually and physically impaired individuals. The first part of the guide helps consider the target individuals when creating a safety plan for public spaces or services. The second part of the guide assists in the creation of an evacuation map that considers the same individuals. This emergency map gives an example product for the stakeholders of the commissioner to implement according to their specific needs. The commissioner of this thesis is Erasmus+ RDI project SAFE.
This thesis is conducted as a development project. Existing information on emergency safety and visual and physical impairments serves as a theoretical framework. Interviews were conducted with the target individuals. The data collection uses a combination of semi-structured interviews and practical walkthroughs to gather insights from the target demographic, ensuring that the guides address real-world challenges and needs. The collected information naturally separates into three different categories in safety planning. Therefore, thematic reviews were used to analyze the information.
Key findings revealed gaps in current emergency planning practices. Some of the characteristics of a normal safety plan can translate to the specific needs of the target individuals, but in some instances, reaching safety or the availability of how to reach it, for these individuals is difficult or not available at all. The implications of this research can increase the consideration of the target individuals and improve safety standards and inclusivity in public emergency planning. Future research could explore the implementation and effectiveness of the guide in diverse settings, further contributing to the field of inclusive emergency preparedness.
This thesis is conducted as a development project. Existing information on emergency safety and visual and physical impairments serves as a theoretical framework. Interviews were conducted with the target individuals. The data collection uses a combination of semi-structured interviews and practical walkthroughs to gather insights from the target demographic, ensuring that the guides address real-world challenges and needs. The collected information naturally separates into three different categories in safety planning. Therefore, thematic reviews were used to analyze the information.
Key findings revealed gaps in current emergency planning practices. Some of the characteristics of a normal safety plan can translate to the specific needs of the target individuals, but in some instances, reaching safety or the availability of how to reach it, for these individuals is difficult or not available at all. The implications of this research can increase the consideration of the target individuals and improve safety standards and inclusivity in public emergency planning. Future research could explore the implementation and effectiveness of the guide in diverse settings, further contributing to the field of inclusive emergency preparedness.