title: Addressing the Needs of Children With Disabilities Experiencing Disaster or Terrorism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reviews the empirical literature on psychosocial factors relating to children with disabilities in the context of disaster or terrorism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research indicates adults with disabilities experience increased exposure to hazards due to existing social disparities and barriers associated with disability status. However, studies on the psychological effects of disaster/terrorism on children with pre-existing disabilities are exceedingly few and empirical evidence of the effectiveness of trauma-focused therapies for this population is limited. Secondary adversities, including social stigma and health concerns, also compromise the recovery of these children post-disaster/terrorism. Schools and teachers appear to be particularly important in the recovery of children with disabilities from disaster. Disasters, terrorism, and war all contribute to increased incidence of disability, as well as disproportionately affect children with pre-existing disabilities. Disaster preparedness interventions and societal changes are needed to decrease the disproportionate environmental and social vulnerability of children with disabilities to disaster and terrorism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, Center on Disability and Development, Texas A&M University, Mail Stop 4225, College Station, TX, 77843, USA. lstough@tamu.edu.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stough
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education, School of Education, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA, 94928, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth McAdams
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ducy
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, Center on Disability and Development, Texas A&M University, Mail Stop 4225, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Donghyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Children; Disability; Disaster; Mental health; Terrorism; Trauma