Disability, Disaster, and Resilience in Oceania
Description
This interdisciplinary volume examines the intersection of disability, disaster risk, and resilience within the sociocultural and ecological contexts of Oceania. Drawing on oral histories, Indigenous knowledge systems, and policy analysis, the book foregrounds the lived experiences of disabled individuals in Pacific Island nations facing climate-related disasters such as cyclones, volcanic eruptions, and rising sea levels. It critically engages with global frameworks-including the Sendai Framework and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities-while highlighting implementation gaps and accessibility challenges in local contexts.
By integrating perspectives from disability studies, environmental justice, and decolonial theory, the book challenges dominant disaster discourses that often overlook disability. It explores how disabled communities navigate compounded vulnerabilities and contribute to resilience-building through community care, advocacy, and inclusive planning. The volume offers region-specific insights into infrastructure disparities, gendered dimensions of vulnerability, and culturally grounded strategies for disaster preparedness.
This book will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in public health, disability studies, climate adaptation, and policy development. It provides a timely and actionable contribution to inclusive disaster governance and climate justice, amplifying voices from Oceania that are often underrepresented in global literature.
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Dr. Ramakrishnan V serves as an Associate Professor of Genetics at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, part of the Chettinad Academy of Research and Education in Kelambakkam. His expertise provides vital insights into genetic polymorphisms linked to various metabolic disorders, which are important for both clinical practice and public health. He is also actively involved in chromosomal analysis for numerous genetic disorders identified in the pediatric cases. His research focuses on finding chromosomal abnormalities and structural changes that cause developmental issues and congenital diseases in children. This research is crucial for early identification, clinical care, and genetic counselling for afflicted families. When conducting a genetic evaluation of an individual, it is essential to consider the family medical history. A thorough pathological background of the family aids in identifying or predicting inherited genetic disease patterns within or across families. In recent years, genetic testing has become increasingly important for the evaluation of cardiac, metabolic, reproductive, and neurological conditions. Advances in technology, including polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, multi-omics, and systems biology techniques, have facilitated the shift toward multigene testing using microarray panels. These panels, which include hundreds of biomarker genes, enable early detection of complex diseases.
Sheena Mariam Thomas is working in a research associate position under Dr. Ramakrishnan's supervision at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, part of the Chettinad Academy of Research and Education.
Content
Chapter 1 Colonial Cartographies and the Disabled Body.- Chapter 2 Policy Gaps and Global Frameworks.- Chapter 3 Infrastructure, Isolation, and Inaccessibility.- Chapter 4 Voices from the Islands: Oral Histories of Disabled Survivors.- Chapter 5 Women, Disability and Double Vulnerability.- Chapter 6 Indigenous Knowledge, Disability, and Ecological Wisdom.- Chapter 7 Crisis Disaster Preparedness: Lessons from Local Initiatives.- Chapter 8 Advocacy, Policy, and the Future of Inclusive Resilience.