On 21 May, EASPD hosted the final conference of the eVeR Safe project, Europe’s Crisis Response: Leaving No One Behind in Emergencies.

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme, eVeR Safe aimed to strengthen emergency preparedness among people with autism through innovative and accessible learning approaches. The conference offered an opportunity not only to present the project's results, but also to discuss a broader challenge facing Europe today: how to ensure that people with disabilities are fully included in emergency preparedness and response.

As Europe faces an increasing number of emergencies, from extreme weather events to public health crises, building inclusive and accessible response systems has become more important than ever.

Key messages from the event

The conference opened with reflections on the current state of emergency preparedness across Europe and the importance of considering disability inclusion throughout the entire crisis management cycle.

Speakers from the University of Galway, the Spanish Red Cross, the European Disability Forum and the European Commission's DG ECHO highlighted that people with disabilities often face additional barriers during emergencies, including inaccessible information, limited support mechanisms and insufficient consideration of their needs in emergency planning. As a result, participants stressed that inclusion should not be treated as an afterthought. Instead, accessibility and participation must be built into preparedness, response and recovery measures from the very beginning.

Throughout the discussions, a common message emerged: creating inclusive emergency systems requires strong cooperation between public authorities, emergency services, service providers and organisations representing people with disabilities. Only through collaboration can emergency responses effectively meet the needs of everyone in the community.

Project results

The conference also provided an opportunity to showcase the main achievements of the eVeR Safe project. Participants were introduced to the project's training resources and innovative Virtual Reality application, designed to help people with autism build practical skills and confidence when faced with emergency situations.

By engaging with realistic emergency scenarios in a safe and supportive environment, users can familiarise themselves with situations they may encounter in real life, develop coping strategies and strengthen their ability to respond effectively. Alongside the VR tool, the project developed a curriculum, training materials and guidance for educators and support professionals, ensuring that its results can continue to support learning and preparedness beyond the project's lifetime.

While the conference marked the formal conclusion of eVeR Safe, it also highlighted the need to continue advancing disability-inclusive emergency preparedness across Europe. The project's results provide valuable tools to support this work and contribute to more inclusive and resilient communities.

Learn more about the project here.