As the past week has unfolded NZ has been gripped with grief over the traumatic events of the Christchurch earthquake. As the death toll has increased we are reminded of the immeasurable cost to human life that Cantabrians face and the great tragedy that will forever mark New Zealand’s history.
Amidst this time of great grief we have been comforted by the support of our international community who, even today and no doubt in the weeks to come, continue to offer their resources to the huge effort being undertaken to assist people affected by this tragedy. In such a difficult time it has been overwhelming to witness the response from emergency services at the front line ensuring food and water is distributed, that houses are safe, and that people are comforted. Many of those providing emergency services have volunteered their time and resources and support continues to pour in from around the country. We are determined to stand together resilient in the face of huge adversity.
As the official statements from emergency services have reminded us, one of the most immediate responses to victims of the earthquake has come in the form of neighbours, and those close by affected areas, checking on others in their community – by all accounts, Cantabrians have not let each other down. Whilst natural disaster strikes the hearts and homes of many people all over New Zealand in one form or another, a particularly acute impact is had on those in the affected area living with disability.
The most recent disability survey highlights that close to 600,000 adults and 90,000 children (17% of the population) registered as having a disability. Furthermore, the likely hood of having a disability also increases with age meaning that our elderly are particularly vulnerable. It is also important to remember that a majority of those living with disability endure sensory and physical disabilities impacting on their ability to access vital emergency services in a natural disaster. In particular, structural damage to buildings, liquefaction and rubble have a compounding impact on those living with disability. In short reduced mobility can often mean lesser visibility lesser access and also lesser voice.
In times of natural disasters, it is also important to bear in mind that assisting those with existing disabilities is only half of the equation. The National Director of CBM (formerly the Christian Blind Mission) reminds us that for every person that dies in times of emergency three will suffer a severe disability. We’ve all heard the stories of survivors having to have limbs amputated in order to free them – there will be many that will suffer from varied long term disability because of this disaster. Those survivors of the Christchurch earthquake that will require rehabilitation from injuries and who experience permanent disabilities will need our on-going consideration and support.
There have been a couple of times whilst watching the televised coverage, that I’ve seen a NZSL interpreter in action – this will be a welcomed initiative by NZ’s deaf community. Approximately 200,000 New Zealanders live with a hearing impairment that cannot eliminated by a hearing aid. Whilst the NZSL interpreter will benefit many of the deaf community around NZ thought also needs to be given to those living in earthquake struck Christchurch without access to television, consistent subtitling of media coverage or sign language interpreters at future emergency updates. The absence of such services potentially compounds the distress being felt amongst our deaf community in an already stressful time.
There is so much to take in to consideration when reflecting on the enormity of the Christchurch situation. Our people living with disabilities in the midst of the turmoil – are an important group to remember when reflecting on or responding to the very serious situation at hand.
What’s in your Survival Kit?
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-in-your-survival-kit.html
So you might be thinking that it’s never going to happen to you and you wont ever need to leave your home for an extended period of time and survive on your own.
Great that some of the news items on one channel have been signed, but it only happened with a great deal of lobbying by the community, and it is still only patchy. For example, they need to have a box in the corner of the screen for the NZSL interpreter when there is a piece with voice over. But a small positive start which I hope develops.
“The most recent disability survey highlights that close to 600,000 adults and 90,000 children (17% of the population) registered as having a disability.”
What is the defination of a disability?
“Furthermore, the likely hood of having a disability also increases with age…”
According to your stats, (taking the nz population at 4.2mil) the number actually falls slightly from 17% as a child down to 16.3% as an adult.
I agree with the tone of Carmel’s post. I think the high registration rate for disabilities here is not so much because more people are disabled as because awareness is relatively good in comparison with other countries. The discrimination still exists and some of it is quite harsh to see, but there are at least organisations dedicated to raising the profile of disabilities.
The Christchurch quake will have put a considerable strain on those who are tetraplegics and quadraplegics and their care givers.
To be confined to a bed or wheelchair, dependent on your 24 hour 7 day week caregivers for all, at this time would be especially horrific.
The specialist caregiver providers will be under even greater pressure than normal as they struggle with the conflicting demands of their families and their need to provide for the high needs of their client/ friends.
There are amazing stories about the responses by the caregivers in these cases that deserve coverage especially as it is these workers that are being denied a minimum hourly wage by McCully and the Key govt when they are on call at night.
My Brother-in-law is intellectually and physically disabled and in residential care in CHCHCH. We have flown him to Auckland and he is staying with us as long as he likes, which is also freeing up his room in CHCHCH for respite care, which is in great demand.
Some very good points in this post Carmel.
The Ministry of Health today praised the way that disability providers and their workforces have responded to the tragedy in Christchurch to maintain the support for people with disabilities.
Over 300 people being supported in residential facilities have been moved out of Christchurch and a lot of support workers have volunteered to go with them.
There are others though, who have been encouraged to move towards the new individualised funding model, who have stuggled when their support worker (their employee) couldn’t get to them and they didn’t have a larger provider to back them up.
This needs looking at.
I am a 43 year woman with Asperger Syndrome, dyspraxia, depression, and some physical illnesses. Our family (me and my elderly parents) felt totally abandoned in this earthquake. I was in crisis just before it struck, and then had to endure 12 days with no power, 14 days with no landline, and 23 days with no water/sewerage. I ended up having a major crisis, and having respite care for 3 days, and then was placed back in the same rotten environment. Lifelinks did not contact us for 10 days after the earthquake, and then did nothing. I am once again in crisis, and they are uncontactable. There has to be better systems in place before the next earthquake. Neighbours and community groups were really good, but they can only do so much.