Disability and Disasters Award
The Disability and Disasters Award supports people with disabilities working in disasters, as well as those who care for, study, or advocate on behalf of those with disabilities. Award funds will allow the recipient to attend the annual Natural Hazards Workshop and the Researchers or Practitioners Meetings that follow.
People with disabilities have been identified as among the most vulnerable to disasters; however, research has shown that they also have tremendous capacity. This award will recognize those who advance and support the area of disability and disasters.
Recipients of this award will be recognized at the Workshop and will be asked to present a poster or to serve as panelists, where they can highlight their research and/or practical experiences with disability and disasters.
2023 Winner
Alina Engelman
Alina Engelman is an associate professor of public health at California State University, East Bay. Her scholarly work focuses on health disparities for the deaf and disabled, including emergency preparedness and response and global disability justice in climate disasters. Other work explores the emergency preparedness and response role of community-based organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities in Puerto Rico. Engelman received her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley; her Master of Public Health in global health from Yale University; and her bachelor’s at Brown University.
To see a list of all previous winners, please click here: Disability and Disasters Award Winners
Eligibility and Application
Applicants must reside and be from an organization or academic institution based in the United States. Previous in-person attendees of the Natural Hazards Workshop are not eligible. Preference is given to those who can demonstrate financial need. Hazards practitioners, students, and researchers with a strong commitment to the intersection of disability and disaster management and mitigation are encouraged to apply.
Please check back in early 2024 to apply.
If you have any questions, please contact the chair of the Disability and Disasters Award, Candace Evans candace.evans@colorado.edu, or committee member Heather Champeau heather.champeau@colorado.edu.
Special Thanks
The Disability and Disasters Award fund is possible thanks to the generous gift of an anonymous donor.
Request for Contributions
The Disability and Disasters Award supports people with disabilities working in disasters, as well as those who care for, study, or advocate on behalf of those with disabilities. Award funds will allow the recipient to attend the annual Natural Hazards Workshop and the Researchers or Practitioners Meetings that follow. To make a gift, please visit the CU Foundation site by clicking on the link below.