Accessibility as resource conservation in crisis and emergency risk communication

This study explores how accessible risk communication is conceptualized and implemented across emergency management organizations (EMOs) in Canada. Using eight adapted Structured Interview Matrix consultations, the study engaged 72 emergency management and public health professionals representing 31 EMOs from all 13 provinces and territories. The qualitative methodology included inductive analysis of verbatim transcripts, triangulation with a complementary study of disability-serving organizations, and developed explanatory models for accessibility and resource use in crisis and emergency risk communication. The scope encompassed varying organizational sizes, mandates, and geographical regions within Canada, emphasizing practical and scalable solutions.

The key findings reveal that while there is strong support for accessible risk communication, persistent challenges remain, including resource constraints, fragmented knowledge infrastructure, and inconsistent standards across jurisdictions. The study presents two models: the Costs of Exclusion Model, which shows how reactive approaches to accessibility lead to repeated resource burdens, and the Self-Reinforcing Responsive Model (SRRM), which demonstrates that proactive investment in engagement, awareness, preparedness, and an inclusive culture makes accessibility easier and less resource-intensive over time. Authors recommend reframing accessibility as a resource-conserving disaster risk reduction strategy and suggest using the SRRM’s accessibility indicators and phased roadmap to embed accessibility into routine practice. This proactive approach shifts emergency management from reactive adjustments toward sustainable, inclusive preparedness.