Environmental Hazards and Health Risks for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities (PwDs) have received limited attention in previous research on the social distribution of environmental hazards and associated health risks. Recent reports indicate that PwDs are significantly more likely to face evacuation difficulties, suffer property damage, get separated from family members, be ignored by relief volunteers in shelters, and suffer health-related problems after a natural or technological disaster. They are also more likely to be injured or die than non-disabled individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as public health emergencies caused by climate change and other environmental hazards. Dr. Jayajit Chakraborty’s recent research has examined adverse and disproportionate exposure to natural/technological hazards and COVID-19 for PwDs, based on their type of difficulty (e.g., hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and/or independent living), as well as socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity, and poverty status). Dr. Chakraborty’s has published several journal articles and delivered multiple public presentations on this topic:
JOURNAL ARTICLES & BOOK CHAPTERS:
- Grineski S E, Scott M, Collins T W, Chakraborty J, and Ramos K, 2023. Anxiety and Depression after Winter Storm Uri: Cascading Disasters and Mental Health Inequities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 96, 103933; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103933.
- Chakraborty J, 2023. COVID-19 and People with Disabilities: Social Inequalities in the Distribution of Pandemic Vulnerability. In Carey A, Green S, and Mauldin L (eds.) Research in Social Sciences and Disability: Disability in the Time of Pandemic. Emerald Press: Bingley, UK; 15-29.
- Chakraborty J, Collins T W, and Grineski S E, 2023. Disability and Subsidized Housing Residency: The Adverse Impacts of Winter Storm Uri in Metropolitan Texas. Disability and Health Journal, 16(2), 101403; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101403.
- Chakraborty J, 2022. Disparities in Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution for People With Disabilities in the US. Science of the Total Environment, 156791. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156791.
- Chakraborty J, 2021. Vulnerability to the COVID-19 Pandemic for People with Disabilities in the U.S.” Disabilities, 1(3), 278-285; DOI:10.3390/disabilities1030020.
- Chakraborty J. 2021. Social Inequities in the Distribution of COVID-19: An Intra-Categorical Analysis of People with Disabilities in the U.S. Disability and Health Journal 101007; DOI: 10.1016/ j.dhjo.2020.101007.
- Chakraborty J. 2020. Unequal Proximity to Environmental Pollution: An Intersectional Analysis of People with Disabilities in Harris County, Texas. The Professional Geographer 72(4), 521-534.
- Chakraborty J, Grineski S, & Collins T. 2019. Hurricane Harvey and People with Disabilities: Disproportionate Exposure to Flooding in Houston, Texas. Social Science & Medicine 226, 176-181.
- Chakraborty J, 2019. Proximity to Extremely Hazardous Substances for People with Disabilities: A Case Study in Houston, Texas. Disability and Health Journal 12(1), 121-125.
- Chakraborty J, and Armstrong M P, 2001. Assessing the Impact of Airborne Toxic Releases on Populations with Special Needs. The Professional Geographer 53(1), 119-131.
INVITED TALKS:
- Climate Change and Persons with Disabilities: Research and Policy Priorities. Harvard Law School Project on Disability: Ensuring Disability Inclusion in the Global Climate Action Agenda (virtual webinar); October 2023.
- Intersection of Environmental Justice and Disability. Environmental Science Associates (ESA) Speaker Series on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (virtual talk); August 2023.
- Invited Presenter, “Environmental Injustice and Disabilities. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cumulative Impacts Webinar (virtual talk); June 2023.
- Disability-Inclusive Climate Change Research and Policy Priorities. Wilkes Climate Summit. Impacts on Vulnerable Communities Panel, The Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; May 2023.
- Disability and Environmental Research, Disability Climate Justice Conference and Workshop. Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University; September 2022.
- Vulnerability to COVID-19 for People with Disabilities: Spatial and Social Inequalities in the U.S. Geospatial Fellows Webinar Series, American Association of Geographers; June 2021.
- COVID-19 and People with Disabilities: Exploring Spatial Associations and Social Disparities in the U.S. GEOMED International Webinar; May 2021.
- Unequal Exposure to COVID-19 for People with Disabilities. COVID-19 and Social Inequality Discussion Forum, University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso TX); November 2020.
ONLINE PUBLICATIONS:
- Chakraborty J and Salas K. Developing a Disability Vulnerability Dashboard. CyberGISX: Featured Blog Posts. Available at: https://cybergisxhub.cigi.illinois.edu/blog/developing-a-disability-vulnerability-dashboard/
- Chakraborty J and Salas K. Disability Vulnerability Dashboard. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/SEGALabDVD.
- Chakraborty, J. COVID-19 and People with Disabiities. CyberGISX: Featured Blog Posts. Available at: https://cybergisxhub.cigi.illinois.edu/blog/covid-19-and-people-with-disabilities/.