The DANA It has hit the entire Valencian Community hard, leaving devastation and buried lives in its wake. In the midst of the catastrophe, the town is bringing out the best in itself, with thousands of volunteers collaborating to help those who have lost everything. Solidarity is present in every corner and the media are doing a great job in making the stories of those affected visible, showing a united and supportive Spain. However, there are those who, even surviving, cannot raise their voices. They are the people with disability and their families, who, already accustomed to dealing with everyday barriers, now face challenges multiplied by the catastrophe. They are the great forgotten ones, as in so many other crises.
In emergency situations, the specific needs of people with disabilities are often not considered. In the context of a crisis, products such as thickening or texture modified foodsessential for those with swallowing difficulties, become practically unattainable. Without them, these people cannot feed themselves safely, and their families are forced to resort to dangerous or insufficient alternatives. Including these products in emergency supplies is not a whim, but an urgent need.
The situation is further complicated by the lack of access to medicines. For many people with disabilities, medication is essential, and without an adequate supply, their health deteriorates rapidly. Discontinuation of these treatments can be fataland the lack of a clear protocol to ensure access during an emergency should not be the norm.
To this panorama the emotional and physical wear and tear of caregivers is addedthose invisible guardians who not only face the chaos of the emergency, but also carry the responsibility of protecting and assisting their loved ones with disabilities. The emotional burden for them is immense, but they are rarely or never offered the necessary support.
Resources, effective leadership and governance are needed to ensure that in every crisis, no one is left behind
In addition, In temporary shelters, accessibility needs are often forgotten. Evacuation spaces are not usually adapted for people with reduced mobility or sensory disabilities, leaving them defenseless in moments of greatest need. This not only puts them in danger, but denies them their right to receive help in conditions of equality and dignity.
In Spain, solidarity characterizes us, but we need resources, effective leadership and governance to ensure that, in every crisis, no one is left behind. Several urgent actions are needed. The central and regional governments must stop discussing competencies and collaborate actively and effectively, also thinking about citizens who live with disabilities. Help must arrive quickly and continuously; People have lost everything, and every second fuels the catastrophe, even more so in already vulnerable groups.
To the Valencia associations that work with people with disabilities: make your needs visible so that we can all help you. For large entities, create and make visible specific help channels. To the citizens: Among the affected Valencians, approximately 10% are people with disabilities. Not even I, who live with a disability, can imagine all their needs; ask the NGOs, get involved. To the media, make visible this reality whose greatest catastrophe is to remain hidden, this further incapacitates them from any possibility of collaboration.
At Covives con Espasticidad and the Claudia Tecglen Foundation, although we are small entities, we are available to help people with disabilities and their families in Valencia in whatever way we can. The people save the people, but they can’t even try when we are invisible.