National Commission on Children and Disasters. 2010 Report to the ...

planning for the evacuation of schools and addressing the unique needs of students with
disabilities. 420 The guide suggests that school-based plans should ensure the participation of
students and staff with disabilities in the event of an evacuation, lockdown, or shelter-inplace.
In addition, it recommends that all school-based plans address a wide variety of
disabilities, including visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, and emotional. 421 These plans must
ensure that evacuation vehicles and evacuation sites are accessible to students and staff
with disabilities, and address reunification of students with their families and guardians after
evacuation. 422 Pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools are
required to provide transportation that accommodates students with disabilities. 423 As part of
the Individualized Education Plans (IEP) mandated for students with disabilities, schools
should include plans for evacuating and providing appropriate transportation for these
students. 424 A planning tool from the <strong>National</strong> Fire Protection Association includes a
checklist addressing issues regarding safe evacuation of students with disabilities that can be
included with each student’s IEP. 425
420 Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties, Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 301: Interim Emergency Management Planning Guide
for Special Needs Populations, Version 1.0, 32-33.
421 Ibid., 32.
422 Ibid., 42-44.
423 P.L. 108-446 (2004).
424 <strong>National</strong> Fire Protection Association, Personal Emergency Evacuation Planning Tool for School Students with
Disabilities, (Quincy, MA: NFPA, July 2007), 3,
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Fact%20sheets/EvacStudentDisabilities.pdf.
425 Ibid., 9-13.
134 NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND DISASTERS: 2010 REPORT