Emergency Planning for Students with Disabilities and Special Needs

1. Emergency Planning for Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Bob Spears, Director of Emergency Services Los Angeles Unified School District

2. Los Angeles Unified School District We serve the City of Los Angeles and 28 other municipalities • K – 12 Enrollment: 694,288 • Number of Schools: 1,190 – including charters • Number of Employees: 83,967 • Schools specifically for special education: 19 • Population at those schools: 4,000 students

3. Planning Steps Before an Emergency • Identification Process • Preventing Injuries • Mitigation of Hazards • Preparing Students and Staff

4. Which Students May Additional Need Support in an Emergency? • Students with disabilities and special needs may require accommodations in two general areas: 1.EVACUATION • Students with mobility impairments may pose challenges in exiting a building and going to the safe assembly area. All schools establish a safe refuge area for evacuation but specific students may need assistance in getting there.

5. Which Students May Additional Need Support in an Emergency? • Students with disabilities and special needs may require accommodations in two general areas: 2.SHELTER • Once at the safe assembly area, some students may need more support than others. Students who depend on medical devices, medicines or constant assistance will still require this support once they are evacuated.

6. Identification • The challenge for site administrators is to identify these students, capture their information, define their needs and have it in one central file. • In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), we will identify a field in the school computer for students who need a specific emergency plan. The school staff will then print out hard copies for the emergency management team.

7. Identification • Many individuals or groups on campus can identify students who need assistance in an emergency: • School Safety Committee • Nurse • Teachers • Parents • Individual Education Program (IEP) Team • NOTE: This student list is not the same as your Special Education or Individuals with Disabilities list as all students with special needs may not receive special education services.

8. Who is included? • Think of all kinds of challenges: • Students with temporary disabilities (i.e., student with a broken ankle) • Students with asthma (smoke may be a problem) • Blind students may not be able to navigate hallways after an earthquake or hurricane • Students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or emotional trauma

9. Identification • Once the students are identified, then the school computer can generate reports: • Class Schedules • Parent Contact Information • Health Issues • These reports are put in the emergency plan so that these students will not be overlooked. They identify your most vulnerable population.

10. Prevention • What prevention actions can schools take to address emergency planning considerations for students with disabilities and special needs? • Use only classrooms with direct egress to safe area • Hold additional evacuation practice with staff • Have students practice with search and rescue teams • Review contents of emergency supply cache with staff, students, and parents • Supply portable generators for students dependent on medical devices • Review system for alerting individuals of an emergency—test the system to ensure that it remains in working order

11. Mitigation • What physical modifications could be made to mitigate the challenges to students and staff? • Repair/modification to pathways with access to the Safe Assembly Area – the field or shelter designated for the emergency. • Work with district maintenance staff to make sure critical access issues are addressed • Generators for schools with elevators

12. Mitigation • Conduct regular site inspections to make sure that all fire and safety codes are being met • Hallways are clear and open • Doors are not blocked • Safe Refuge Areas are not compromised by campus activities or construction

13. Preparedness • Planning for each student with disabilities and special needs: • Develop an emergency plan that is customized for each student • Plans should be developed in collaboration with school staff, parents, and students • Plans should take into consideration any transportation, communication, or medical needs a student may have • Preferred evacuation strategies should be discussed and articulated in the student’s emergency plan

14. Preparedness • Site Administration should modify their emergency management plans to accommodate students with special needs. • Examples of accommodations may include: • Identification of Areas of Refuge on upper floors where students can safely wait for rescue • Identification of specific items that should be added to the school’s emergency supply cache • Identification of human resources that may need to be reassigned to meet specific needs

15. Preparedness • Provide training for school staff and first responders • Coordinate and communicate emergency plans with local first responders • Conduct evacuation and shelter-in-place drills • Invite local first responders to drills. • Invite local Health Care & Medical Services personnel to come to drills. • Invite parents to observe drills and to practice playing their part. • Use post-drill evaluations, “hot washes” and after-action reports to refine your Safe School Plan. • Purchase needed equipment, such as evacuation chairs • Identify roles and responsibilities for school staff to follow in an emergency

16. Preparedness: Supplies and Go-Kits • Classroom Go-kits contain materials for health and safety such as flashlights and bandages as well as items to engage children during extended lockdown. • Go-kits may need be customized to include any special medications, supplies and equipment that students may need.

17. Preparedness • Identify Roles for Members of the School’s Incident Command System • Operations Section Leader – to make sure that the Search and Rescue Teams account for everyone and First Aid is ready for all possibilities. • Logistics Section Leader –What specific supplies are needed for this population? How many special busses are needed to evacuate all of your students? • Planning Section Leader -What are the immediate and long term needs of this population? Who is most “at risk”? Who will need support first?

18. Contact Information Bob Spears Emergency Services Los Angeles Unified School District 333 South Beaudry Ave., 20th floor Los Angeles, California 90017 Telephone: (213) 241-3889 Fax: (213) 241-6816 fax Email: bob.spears@lausd.net