Table 3.

Disaster Communication Preferences for Families with Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs

Preferred content	● Education and training in family emergency planning ● Information on local emergency resources ● Use of emergency information form (EIF) ● School emergency plan information ● Content directed specifically to children’s needs; developmental level, tailored to communication challenges ● Content informed by children and youth with special healthcare needs—risk perceptions and challenges with protective behaviors, customized to age and disability ● Mental health of children following disasters
Preferred sources	● Healthcare professionals, including pediatricians, occupational therapists ● School personnel, including administrators, nurses, teachers ● Local government officials
Preferred channels	● In-person meetings, one-on-one training ● Hybrid (in-person/online) forums hosted by schools, service organizations ● Brochures, videos, web-based resources—for use by medical practices ● Text messages from schools to parents/families (during emergencies) ● Social media (during emergencies)