Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People with Disabilities

Can People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision Use the Circulation Path by Themselves?

A circulation path is considered a usable circulation path if it meets one of the following criteria:

• A person who is blind or has low vision is able to travel unassisted through it to a public way.

• A person who is blind or has low vision is able to travel unassisted through that portion of the usable circulation path necessary to reach an area of refuge.

An area of refuge serves as a temporary haven from the effects of a fire or other emergency. A person who is blind or has low vision must be able to travel from the area of refuge to the public way, although such travel might depend on the assistance of others. If elevation differences are involved, an elevator might be used, or the person might be led down the stairs.