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Considerations for Individuals with Disabilities
In addition to the considerations identified for the assisted evacuation of individuals with disabilities discussed in the “Expectations During an Incident” section, there are a number of considerations that must be addressed to fulfill our collective responsibilities. Ensuring a safe work environment for individuals with disabilities is a priority of The George Washington University. The University operationalizes the requirements of this priority by encouraging the inclusion of special needs of and specific processes for individuals with disabilities in local contingency plans. For example, the ability to inform individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing using text pagers during an incident may provide their only way to communicate the events around them unless an interpreter is available.
Preparations
Individuals with disabilities must:
- Notify your chair, professor or supervisor of your need for assistance during an incident.
- Know your assigned escorts.
- Carry assistive devices needed in an incident (cell phones, text pagers, etc.)
- Inform your chair, professor, supervisor and designated escort on how they can best reach you and communicate to you during an incident.
- Know a safe area to wait for assisted evacuation.
- Visit the safe area periodically to ensure it has not been modified or obstructed.
- Participate fully in evacuation drills.
Deans, chairs, faculty, supervisors, and other cognizant personnel must:
- Know who has limitations that might require special considerations during an incident.
- Plan for the safest quickest route out of the building (elevators are not normally an option).
- Recognize that individuals who or deaf or hard of hearing may not be aware of evacuation updates.
- Add high-risk individuals to the fax or blast e-mail lists to provide a source of clear communication about an incident. Include all possible means of communication with those people.
- Provide UPD with a class or work schedule to locate individuals with disabilities throughout the day.
- Assign willing and capable escorts (in sufficient numbers to accommodate absences) to anyone requiring special assistance.
- Discuss intended procedures with those involved. Walk the routes you intend to use periodically to ensure they are suitable and have not been modified or obstructed.
Response
Individuals with disabilities must:
- Keep in visual contact with escort(s).
- Notify the professor or supervisor if enough escorts are not present to assist.
- Call UPD (994-6111 at Foggy Bottom 292-6111 at Mount Vernon ) or 911 if they are unavailable or you are not at a DC campus) and alert them to your location and any assistance you require.
Deans, chairs, faculty, supervisors, and other cognizant personnel must:
- Consciously address the support your individuals with disabilities will need.
- Plan for the evacuation needs of individuals with disabilities.
- Direct capable people to provide the necessary support.
- Ensure that first responders are aware of the physical location of individuals with disabilities (successfully evacuated, safely waiting in a fire tower, etc.).
Recovery
Individuals with disabilities must:
- Ensure someone notifies first responders that you are:
- Safe,
- Out of the building,
- In need of relocation to a safer place, or
- In need of replacement equipment to assist with your mobility if you had to leave yours in the building, and
- If you need your mobility equipment retrieved and where you left it.
- Report to the Crisis Manager:
- Any problems involved with the procedures established for your safety.
- Any failures to use the procedures established for your safety.
- Any recommended improvements to the procedures for your safety.
Deans, chairs, faculty, supervisors, and other cognizant personnel must ensure that any interim or alternate methods and processes used during restoration of normal operations consider the needs of the individuals with disabilities affected. Also, report to the Crisis Manager:
- Any problems involved with the procedures established for safety of those in your charge.
- Any failures to use the procedures established for safety.
And, any recommended improvements to the procedures for safety.
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