This paper defines disaster and discusses the ethics needed before, during, and after a disaster occurs. The concepts of values, liberty, freedom, the common good, and individual rights support ethical policies and actions. The four phases of disaster policies—prevention, planning, response, and mitigation—are grounded in ethical principles that are dominant in bioethics and nursing ethics. Triage ethics as well as the role and functions of the nurse are discussed. Specific ethical issues faced by nurses during and after disasters are detailed.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe: (i) the recognition from teachers at special support schools who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake regarding the needs of children with physical disabilities or slight intellectual and physical disabilities to be better prepared and possess the ability to provide self-care in the event of a natural disaster; and (ii) teachers’ recognition for enhancement of children’s abilities through education.

Methods: This was a qualitative design that was based on a content analysis of semi-structured interviews with 15 teachers who were working at five special support schools for children with physical disabilities in two prefectures in the Kanto area, when the Earthquake occurred. Data collection was between November 2011 and August 2012.

Results: The teachers recognized that children who need to prepare for natural disasters require eight abilities of self-care: protect themselves, have a sense of emergency, prepare emergency supplies, ask for help, act in a calm way, act independently, comprehend the situation of others and the surroundings too, and prior arrangement of means of contact in an emergency. Also, there were five education methods needed to help these children act independently in such an event.

Conclusions: For these children to be able to personally prepare for natural disasters, they need to acquire and/or enhance their abilities in terms of the eight self-care abilities derived from this study. The inclusion and application of the five education methods and evacuation drills as part of their daily life is very necessary.