Improving Emergency Response: A Qualitative Needs Assessment Involving People With Disabilities and First Responders

Objective Current emergency response literature rarely focuses on the intersecting experiences of people with disabilities and first responders. This study employed a person-centered Human Factors approach to assess the experiences of people with disabilities and first responders during emergencies. This research identifies environmental and societal factors that hinder emergency response outcomes. Methods We conducted a needs assessment of 126 individuals (95 people with disabilities and 31 first responders). The survey included Likert-style items and open-ended responses. Open-ended items were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. An exploratory sentiment analysis was conducted to examine the alignment between qualitative and quantitative responses. Results Three major themes emerged: communication barriers, insufficient training, and limited resources. People with disabilities emphasized the importance of respectful, clear, and adaptive communication, while first responders noted challenges related to time constraints, tools, and accessible communication methods. Participants from both groups emphasized the urgent need for technology and training that can provide first responders with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve outcomes for people with disabilities. Conclusion This needs assessment offers foundational insights into barriers that impact emergency response for people with disabilities and first responders. Actionable Human Factors solutions are proposed. Application The continued presence of barriers and tensions between the needs of people with disabilities and first responders suggests that Human Factors interventions should be developed to improve communication systems and equipment, training protocols, work systems, and environmental design for accessibility for people with disabilities, while also considering the safety and time-sensitive needs of first responders.