The “Joint Meeting on Enhancing the Safety of Children with Disabilities against Earthquakes” was held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) with the participation of officials, experts, and representatives from the Exceptional Education Organization, the Social Welfare Organization, Volunteers and Youth Organizations of Red Crescent Society, the UNESCO National Commission, and several managers from NGOs related to people with disabilities—including associations for the deaf, blind, spinal cord injury, autism, and some charitable organizations. At the beginning of the meeting, a summary of IIEES’s recent initiatives aimed at improving preparedness for children with disabilities was presented. Participants then shared their views on how to promote new findings to enhance safety culture in disaster preparedness for children with disabilities. Some topics discussed included:
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed to hold a one-day training workshop with representatives from relevant organizations and associations. The goal is to transfer essential concepts and training for earthquake preparedness to selected experts from across the country.
It is worth noting that since 2021 and in order to enhance the earthquake preparedness of children with disabilities, IIEES in collaboration with UNESCO, UNICEF, and the UNESCO Regional Education and Research Center on Earthquake Risk Management and Resilience for West and Central Asia has conducted multisectoral studies. These studies have focused on the safety of children with disabilities—particularly deaf and hard-of-hearing children, children with autism spectrum disorder, children with physical and mobility disabilities, and blind or visually impaired children. As part of this initiative, three separate educational guidelines have been developed for: family members and caregivers of these children, their educators, and executive institutions involved with these children. Additionally, the creation of educational games and stories tailored for children with disabilities has been another key outcome of this joint effort.
