Non-profit organization Life is for All (LIFA), in collaboration with Georgetown University and the University of Thessaly, has received the international Earth Commons ECo Impact Award 2026-2027 for an initiative supporting families of children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities in crisis situations.
The award recognizes the development of a program focused on helping families adapt to the climate crisis and improve preparedness for emergencies.
As climatic and humanitarian crises intensify, the collaboration highlights a critical yet often overlooked need: protecting and supporting vulnerable families during emergencies in an organized, inclusive, and sustainable way.
The initiative maps systemic challenges affecting families’ safety, access, and support during climate-related emergencies such as natural disasters, floods, and wildfires.
Life is for All promotes the inclusion of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and invests in the education of those who support them. Through this initiative, it aims to empower families and strengthen societal preparedness.
The program aims to also equip frontline responders, such as police and fire services, with tools and guidance to safely support people with disabilities in emergencies.
The team will work with families and young people in Greece and the United States to identify, through an evidence-based approach, key factors for effective response. These include communication needs, sensory conditions, emotional and behavioral responses, mobility, medical requirements, and disruptions to daily routines – critical for many children.
“At Life is for All, we support families of neurodiverse individuals and understand that in times of crisis, uncertainty and lack of guidance can quickly turn into danger. We need clear, inclusive guidelines that translate into practical support for both families and professionals. Families cannot be an afterthought. Knowledge must shape the systems and mechanisms that protect them,” said Nathalie Moschou, President of Life is for All.
“For families in Greece, this collaboration marks an important step toward greater preparedness and dignity in climate crises. Together with Georgetown University, we are building solutions so that no family is left behind. This is inclusion in practice,” Moschou added.