Be Prepared: Plan for Emergencies Before Starting School
by Jason Snead, Research and Communications Specialist
August usually means summer for many students going back to school. As a parent of two young kids myself, I must admit I am looking forward to it, as well.
Students are making sure they have the right supplies and outfits for the new school year. For students with disabilities, one of the things they think about is whether your school considers their needs when they are looking at their emergency operation plans (EOPs).
My Story
When I was in first grade in Texas, my elementary school plan was basic. When there was a fire or tornado drill, I would sit in the classroom while everybody else went through the proper protocol. At least, until the day an actual tornado showed up. Two gentlemen arrived to help me get out of my wheelchair and underneath the table. The problem with this scenario was it took us a lot longer than it should have if we had practiced this before. Luckily, the tornado did minor damage, and nobody was hurt. From that point on, the school district made sure I was included in the process so that next time we were prepared.
When I arrived here in Arizona, I carried that experience with me. As a law school student, I made sure I was part of the planning process when it came to any type of evacuation drills. Most of my classes were on upper-level floors, so that meant staying at the top of the stairway in the designated "area of refuge" waiting for the fire department to come to get me. This happened once or twice a year.
Supposedly, the walls in the area of refuge are reinforced with fireproof material, giving firefighters extra time to get to me. But how much more protection would the walls give me? Sometimes, I'd be waiting on the 17th floor of a high-rise building! Fortunately, I never had to test that fireproof theory in a real incident.
Other students experience similarly frightening scenarios, which is why ADDPC released its 2021 report, "No Child Left Behind: School Emergency Planning & Students Who Have Disabilities."
New Law Requires Students with Disabilities to Be Involved
Thankfully, in May 2023, stakeholders helped pass a new law in Arizona, Senate Bill 1315 (ARS 15 341 31). This legislation requires every public school district in the state to “In conjunction with local law enforcement agencies and emergency response agencies, develop an emergency response plan for each school in the school district in accordance with minimum standards jointly by the Department of Education and the division of emergency management within the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. Any emergency response plan developed pursuant to this paragraph must address how the school and emergency responders will communicate with and provide assistance to students with disabilities.”
If you are a student with a disability, as you are preparing for the new school year, make sure you communicate your needs during an emergency beforehand with the school, for your own safety and for the safety of first responders, too. Don't be afraid to quote this new law if you must. However, school districts are responsible for creating the actual plan for each student with a disability.
