The SEE ME 2 project aimed to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in emergency situations by addressing gaps in first responder training, accessibility of emergency systems, and participation of PwDs in preparedness efforts. Through practical training, joint exercises, and improved data sharing, the project promotes more inclusive systems where no one is left behind.
Building on the foundations of the original SEE ME project, the SEE ME 2 project (Safe and Equal in EMErgencies 2), funded under the Track 1 grant, had a clear objective: to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in emergency situations.
Despite existing EU and UN strategies, persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers, challenges that become even more pronounced in times of crisis. These obstacles are often linked to the absence of common standards for protection and rescue, the insufficient integration of disability rights into civil protection procedures, limited training for first responders, and a lack of accessible preparedness guidance for PwDs themselves.
To address these gaps, the SEE ME 2 project developed and delivered targeted training and awareness-raising activities for both first responders and persons with disabilities which emerged as one of the strongest outcomes of the project.
As explained by project coordinator Marijana Berket, “the most mentioned shortcoming of an initial questionnaire among both first responders and PwDs was training. First responders did not know how to communicate with or how to approach PwDs, while PwDs were not properly informed about what to expect during emergencies.”
The approach of the instructors, together with the large number of real-life examples, live demonstrations, and the communication methods used by representatives from associations of blind and visually impaired persons, made the training highly engaging. Without them, it would not have been nearly as impactful.
Building on these identified needs, the project organised practical and public-facing activities. One example was a public exhibition of emergency services, where persons with disabilities participated in demonstrations on how risks such as earthquakes, floods and forest fires develop, tested an earthquake simulator, and engaged directly with first responders.
To ensure that such activities had a longer-term impact, SEE ME 2 also introduced structured training sessions, including a train-the-trainer model designed to embed knowledge and tools on inclusivity within emergency services. As a result, firefighters, NGOs and disability organisations began to collaborate more systematically, organising joint events, and simulation exercises together. Berket highlights this wider impact: “Many collaborations continued after the activities ended. Firefighters connected with local associations, and they started organising exercises together.”
Another important dimension of the SEE ME 2 project was the active involvement of persons with disabilities in practical emergency-related activities. Rather than being positioned solely as beneficiaries, they participated directly in training, simulations and public events.
In several cities, participants engaged in first aid training, emergency simulations, and awareness events alongside first responders. On one occasion, participants from a para swimming club were trained by the Croatian Red Cross and demonstrated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rescue techniques during a public event dedicated to disability inclusion. These activities also helped shift public understanding of disability from a vulnerability-focused perspective to one that recognises agency and skills.
I believe that there should be many more projects and trainings like this. Throughout my life as a person with a disability, I have seen that people are willing and eager to help, but sometimes they simply do not know how. And for this reason project SEE ME 2 is of exceptional importance not only for persons with disabilities, but also for emergency services and the wider community as a whole.
The project reinforced that PwDs themselves are the primary experts of their own needs and capabilities. Persons with different types of disabilities can provide direct, practical insights into how alerts, instructions, or evacuation procedures should be adapted to ensure accessibility and effectiveness. Recognising this expertise was key to improving both the design and relevance of training and preparedness measures.
One of the most innovative elements of SEE ME 2 is the campaign on and the development of a voluntary system to enrich Croatia’s existing Register of Persons with Disabilities linking additional, operationally relevant information to emergency response structures to support faster and better tailored interventions. Currently, between 3,000 and 4,000 individuals have updated additional data through the system and data collection is still ongoing.
As project coordinator Marijana Berket explains, the starting point was not the creation of a new system, but rather a better understanding of an existing one: “When we started, we did not know the register in detail,” she said. “It is managed the Croatian Public Health Institute, and everything is strictly regulated by law, from data collection to processing and use.”
However, while the legal framework provides structure, operational gaps quickly became visible. Key information of PwDs needed for emergency response was often missing, such as precise location details in large buildings, accessibility needs, contact numbers, or information about caregivers like interpreters or assistants.
Importantly, participation in adding information to the register remains voluntary and is continuously encouraged through outreach efforts involving organisations representing the rights and interests of PwDs.
Overall, the SEE ME 2 project demonstrated that inclusive civil protection can be strengthened through the combined role of data-driven innovation, targeted trainings, and the active participation of persons with disabilities themselves. The project highlights that effective emergency systems require more than technical solutions alone. Their effectiveness ultimately depends on trust, training, and sustained cooperation between institutions, emergency services, and communities.
At the same time, the project highlighted structural challenges, particularly around data completeness and inclusion of hard-to-reach groups. Not all individuals are already captured in formal registers, and certain groups, such as those with mental health conditions, remain underrepresented in existing systems due to stigma and sensitivity.
These limitations underline that inclusive emergency preparedness remains an ongoing process requiring continuous refinement of both systems and practices. Ultimately, the SEE ME 2 project marks a step towards more inclusive emergency systems in which persons with disabilities are recognised early, supported effectively, and meaningfully included in emergency preparedness and response.
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