“Monster VIPs”: disaster preparedness training for children with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Disaster resilience is vital to everyone, including people with disabilities. However, teaching people with disabilities requires special techniques, and there is scant literature in the area. This case study designs and implements disaster preparedness training at a school for children with intellectual disabilities in Padang, Indonesia, an area prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The training utilizes a blended learning approach called ‘Monster VIPs’ that combines various learning methods such as storytelling, posters, videos, puzzles, and disaster simulations to facilitate students to understand disasters responses. The training involves university teachers and disaster preparedness volunteers (Taruna Siaga Bencana/TAGANA) of the city’s social services.