Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People with Disabilities

Chapter 6 BUILDING AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR A PERSON WITH A COGNITIVE DISABILITY

All standard building egress systems require the ability to process and understand information in order to safely evacuate. A cognitive disability prevents a person from using or accessing building features due to an inability to process or understand the information necessary to use the features. These disabilities are caused by a wide range of conditions, but all result in some decreased level of ability to process or understand information or situations.

Possible accommodations for people with cognitive disabilities might include the following:

• Providing a picture book of drill procedures

• Color coding fire doors and exit ways

• Implementing a buddy system

• Using a job coach for training

OCCUPANT NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS

No Special Requirements. People with cognitive disabilities can hear standard alarms and voice announcements and see visual indicators that warn of danger and the need to evacuate. However, the ability of a person with a cognitive disability to recognize and understand a fire alarm or other emergency notification systems and what they mean should be verified. If the person does not recognize and understand alarms, then plans for assistance need to be developed.

WAY FINDING

Is Identification of Which Means of Egress Are Available/Closest Necessary?

No Special Requirements. However, the ability of a person with a cognitive disability to find and use the exits should be verified. If the person is not able to recognize and use them without assistance, then plans for assistance need to be developed.

Simple floor plans of the building indicating the location of and routes to usable circulation paths should be available in alternative formats such as single-line, high-contrast plans. These plans should be given to visitors when they enter the building so they can find the exits in an emergency. Signs in alternative formats should be posted at the building entrances stating the availability of the floor plans and where to pick them up. Building security personnel, including those staffing the entrances, should be trained in all accessible building evacuation systems and be able to direct anyone to the nearest usable circulation path.

Is Identification of the Path(s) to the Means of Egress Necessary?

No Special Requirements. However, the ability of a person with a cognitive disability to find and use the exits should be verified. If the person is not able to recognize and use the exits without assistance, then plans for assistance need to be developed.

USE OF THE WAY

No Special Requirements. However, the ability of a person with a cognitive disability to use the exits should be verified. If the person is not able to recognize and use the exits without assistance, then plans for assistance need to be developed.

IS ASSISTANCE REQUIRED?

Who Will Provide the Assistance?

Generally, only one person is necessary to assist a person with a cognitive disability. A practical plan should identify at least two, ideally more, people who are willing and able to provide assistance. Common sense tells us that a specific person may not be available at any given time due to illness, vacation, off-site meetings, and so on. The identification of multiple people who are likely to have different working and traveling schedules provides a much more reliable plan.

Specific Person(s) in the Office or the Building Who:

• Has special training or skills

• Is known to the person with the cognitive disability

• Anyone in the Office or the Building

What Assistance Will the Person(s) Provide?

• Ensuring that the person with the cognitive disability is aware of the emergency and understands the need to evacuate the building

• Guidance to and/or through the means of egress

Where Will the Person(s) Start Providing Assistance?

• From the current location of the person needing assistance

• From a specific, predetermined location such as:

  • Entry to stairs

  • Other

When Will the Person(s) Provide Assistance?

• Always

• Only when asked

• Other

How Will the Person(s) Providing Assistance Be Contacted?

• Face to face

• Phone

• PDA

• E-mail

• Visual

• Other