The role of children in disaster risk reduction policies: A case study with hearing and hard of hearing children

Abstract

This case study reports on a series of learning sessions and participatory workshops, which aimed to explore and enhance children's perceptions and knowledge regarding disasters and their role to build resilience in urban contexts. The participants involved 25 students, 22 of whom were hearing and three were hard of hearing, attending the 4 grade of an inclusive educational setting. Also, two teachers, a special education and a general education teacher and two researchers collaborated in the implementation of these workshops. The analysis of the data, which are based on the teachers' reflective logs, indicated that children had several ideas regarding the meaning of hazards and disasters and acknowledged their role in disaster risk reduction. Also, the language and communication barriers of hard of hearing were carefully addressed and the principles of Differentiated Instruction were applied in order to enhance the participation of hard of hearing and hearing children and facilitate the implementation of an inclusive disaster education programme. © 2016 CURRAN-CONFERENCE. All rights reserved.