Open AccessChallenging norms of crisis communication and preparedness by listening to voices from the (dis)ability movement in Sweden
Author(s) -
Magnus Eriksson,
Jörgen Lundälv,
Elisabet M. Nilsson
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international crisis and risk communication conference
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2576-9111
DOI - 10.30658/icrcc.2021.05
Subject(s) - preparedness , crisis communication , active listening , vulnerability (computing) , public relations , normative , pandemic , political science , action (physics) , crisis response , order (exchange) , covid-19 , psychology , medicine , business , computer security , communication , computer science , physics , disease , finance , pathology , quantum mechanics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
This paper presents the result of a survey study where representing members of the disability movement in Sweden have shared their experiences of living and acting during the first year of the Covid-19-pandemic. The aim was to identify crisis communication challenges and where additional communication material and methods are needed for supporting people in going from knowledge to taking action for achieving a higher level of crisis preparedness. The paper also includes a brief summary of a literature review of previous international research on disabilities and the Covid-19 pandemic. Three categories of crisis communication challenges were identified displaying a vulnerability in society and pointing towards several important knowledge gaps that ought to be addressed in order to achieve crisis preparedness among all people. The results indicate that there is a need for additional communication materials and methods that can be appropriated to individual needs, and dialogue methods between authorities and people in order to counteract normative assumptions in crisis communication aimed at different target groups.