School Emergency Policy: Leave Wheelchair-Bound Kids Behind

[docwebster]

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- When a Carroll County, Md., high school had an emergency evacuation, everyone got out except for two students who were confined to wheelchairs.

They were abandoned in the stairwell on the second floor.

I wish I knew what to say.

Comments

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

It is possible that the stairwell qualifies as a "place of refuge" as defined by the ADA. If that is the case, then the kids weren't, at least technically, "abandoned".

I'm not sure how I *feel* about the situation (my inclination would be to have a designated adult stay with them).

[weekendwench.livejournal.com]

how can you have a place of refuge INSIDE a burning building?

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

As I understand it (and I am not an expert), an ADA-qualified "place of refuge" is a location inside a multi-story building, usually but not always a stairwell, which meets certain requirements for size and fire protection.

[weekendwench.livejournal.com]

the standard is stupid...it is not a safe haven inside a burning building