Situational Awareness: Common Risks for Disabled People

It’s estimated that 1 billion people worldwide experience some form of disability or chronic illness, be it physical or mental. 

People with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socioeconomic treatment than those considered neurotypical or able-bodied.

It’s also easy for people without disabilities to make assumptions about collective risks people face without considering those who experience unique disabilities. Taking the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, it’s vital to recognise (and most importantly, understand) the unique perspectives that people with disabilities have around the world’s gradual reopening. 

Assessing the Real-World Risks Faced by People With Disabilities

The pandemic and other globally significant events, from the Sarah Everard case to the war in Ukraine, have at least highlighted the importance of understanding unique risks. 

Advanced Tactical Resources provide structured, bespoke training, products and services to people requiring assistance in mitigating these risks, from women’s situational awareness training to advanced trauma first aid courses, respectively.

However, we must continue to remember the correct methods for assessing risks for ourselves individually and collectively. This, of course, includes a large percentage of people with unique disabilities.

One of the positive aspects of the pandemic was that we, as situational awareness and first aid training providers, are continually adapting our training methods, strategies and platforms to make them more accessible and effective for a greater number of people exposed to these risks.

One risk for an individual could be ensuring the safe return to working practices in their office. Other individuals may be at heightened vulnerability if they are entrusted with more regular face-to-face encounters. 

Similarly, there may be other health and safety measures or precautions that companies must take to ensure complete lone worker safety, particularly if an employee has a physical disability. Companies may have adapted their working strategies and patterns as a result of the pandemic, and thus they should conduct risk assessments to ensure any new, recently-developed requirements are met.

Common Types of Personal Safety Risks

The point we’re trying to make is that employers and training providers need to work in tandem to provide the best possible solutions that protect their employees. But the salient point underlying that is we have to consider other factors beyond the workplace.

Here are just a few key examples of what we mean.

  • People with disabilities may be unable to access some public transportation as regularly or easily as they could before COVID-19. Measures should be taken to ensure they can receive appropriate and adequate help when needed, particularly in emergencies, for example, if they suffer a fall or cannot access certain areas.
  • Those with sight or hearing difficulties are constantly faced with an inherent risk of mobility without seeing and communication without hearing. This is primarily due to a lack of appropriate training in adaptive techniques for those able to help. Companies must ensure that they have accounted for these requirements, if necessary, when they change their working practices.
  • People with any disabilities, both hidden and visible, can be the brunt of accidental or intentional ableism. This can range in severity from minor, insensitive comments to full-blown hostility and ridicule, much of which can be unprovoked. Anybody not accustomed to these situations should bear this in mind and be willing to compromise if someone you know has been affected.

The debate between those in favour of returning to normality as fast as possible and those preferring to exercise protectiveness still rages on. We must recognise that people with chronic illnesses and disabilities will generally err on the side of caution. 

Primarily, this is because many disabled people are at higher risk. This is why non-disabled people assess all risks with rationality and without prejudice.

How Situational Awareness Training Can Help

We have explored the meaning of situational awareness in great depth throughout previous blogs, including its relevance in urban, everyday settings to travel safety in hostile environments

Situational awareness is central to all the training we provide here at Advanced Tactical Resources, whether you’re taking First Aid at Work training or self-defence and close protection courses

Our ethos is that utilising vital situation awareness and decision-making skills will help you to assess risks instantly and more effectively. Whatever your line of work, physical or mental impairments, we can tailor training courses to account for your needs and give you vital skills so you can be more aware of and prevent risks from developing.

Situational Awareness Courses Near You

Enquire with Advanced Tactical Resources today for our next available situational awareness training course dates. If you have specific requirements that need to be covered, please contact us directly, and we’ll be happy to assist.

guardian travel - 3-day Hostile Environment Awareness Training

£999 + VAT
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guardian training - Security Awareness Fragile Environments

£999 + VAT
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guardian training - Close Protection

£3400 + VAT
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guardian travel - 3-day Hostile Environment Awareness Training

999 + VAT
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guardian training - Trauma First Aid

£135 + VAT
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