Cal State East Bay Professor of Public Health is a 2023 Disability and Disasters Award Winner

The Natural Hazards Center has awarded Cal State East Bay Associate Professor of Public Health Alina Engelman the 2023 Disability and Disasters Award.

Engelman’s work focuses on health disparities for people who are deaf and disabled, including promoting justice for global emergency preparedness and response to climate and other disasters.

“As a self-identified disabled scholar, I recognize the need for more work at the intersection of disasters and disability, particularly from the perspective of disabled researchers themselves,” she said. 

Engelman’s other work explores the emergency preparedness and response role of community-based organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities in Puerto Rico.

“In cases around the world, including the Philippines, Kenya, Australia, Puerto Rico and the U.S., we found that disabled people have suffered greatly and died during climate disasters in part because governments and nonprofits didn't consider their needs,” said Engelman. “Due to social and economic structures, disabled people are often at higher risk and may live in areas less geographically protected from the effects of climate change.”

The Disability and Disasters Award was established through a philanthropic gift to primarily bring together people with disabilities working in disasters to the Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. This year’s workshop will be July 9-12 in Boulder, Colorado.

Candace Evans, a graduate research assistant and co-chair of the award committee, noted that the committee was excited by the viewpoint and scholarship Engelman will be able to share with Workshop attendees.

“Engelman’s passion for reducing the vulnerability of disabled and differently-abled people was among the qualities that made her application stand out,” said Heather Champeau, also a graduate research assistant and co-chair of the award committee.

“She has an exciting record of research contributions, especially regarding the need to train emergency responders in strategies to help deaf adults,” Champeau said. “She will bring a fresh perspective to the Workshop.”