Nothing about us, without us: An inclusive preparedness programme for the whole community from inception to sustainment.

Nearly one fifth of the US population has a disability that impacts their communicative, mental or physical function. There are often not enough opportunities for people with disabilities to receive basic emergency preparedness training to help them be more resilient in times of crisis as preparedness education typically targets the general population. The Kent County Health Department, in collaboration with local disability advocates and preparedness educators, developed an inclusive preparedness programme to provide basic preparedness training for the whole community. This paper describes the evolution of the programme along with lessons learned by the participants and instructors.