Article Out Loud – Shelter and Health Response to Functional and Access Needs in Disaster Health

This is an article by Shawna Sisler, Shannon Goodhue, and Jack Herrmann, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 13, 2026.Disasters disproportionately affect people with disabilities, older adults, individuals managing chronic conditions, and others with access and functional needs (AFN). Despite federal recognition of AFN through frameworks such as C-MIST, gaps persist in shelter design, medical continuity, and behavioral health response. Learn how recent innovations by humanitarian organizations and local public health agencies illustrate how this integrated model can reduce preventable harm and protect dignity during emergencies.Now to the featured article.