Exploring the Experiences of People with Disabilities in Post-Disaster Sheltering

Disasters adversely impact society on social, psychological, mental, and spiritual levels. One of the most urgent needs in the aftermath of a disaster is shelter. This includes tents, which serve as emergency shelters; containers, which function as temporary shelters; and permanent housing provided during the reconstruction phase. The temporary sheltering process presents diverse experiences for individuals affected by disasters. For persons with disabilities, this process requires particular attention in terms of design and implementation, as it directly affects their ability to access basic needs and maintain well-being. The February 6, 2023 Kahramanmara & scedil; earthquakes in T & uuml;rkiye underscored the critical importance of inclusive sheltering practices, highlighting the need to re-evaluate existing approaches concerning individuals with disabilities. This study focuses on the experiences of persons with disabilities, a particularly vulnerable group, during the temporary sheltering phase. Initially, national and international post-disaster shelter guidelines and documents addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities were reviewed. This review was supported by systematic data collection at both the national and international levels. Subsequently, the temporary sheltering experiences of persons with disabilities following the Kahramanmara & scedil; earthquakes were analyzed. The findings include an evaluation of the temporary shelter units provided in the disaster's aftermath, assessed from the perspective of individuals with disabilities, along with recommendations proposed by the researcher. Among these, it is emphasized that shelter designs should be revised to accommodate various disability types (e.g., visual, physical, cognitive, auditory). Additionally, the accessibility and usability of social activity areas-such as those found in container cities-should be reexamined. The data indicate that disaster preparedness planning must give specific consideration to the needs of individuals with disabilities to ensure inclusive and equitable shelter solutions.