Emergency Response Policy

Many businesses overlook the needs of people with disabilities in creating an emergency response plan. This page will only cover basic elements of accessible emergency response plans, but we’ve included many resources for your team to utilize while creating a customized plan.

Designate Accessible Exits

When starting to plan your emergency response policy, one of the first things to consider is the location of accessible exits. By International Building Code standards, there need to be at least two exit methods for a building, and they need to meet ADA requirements by being on an accessible route. Accessible emergency exits should be labeled with the International Symbol of Accessibility. For non-accessible exits, there needs to be signage pointing to the nearest accessible route.1

Accessible exits and routes to exits will need to meet ADA standards for accessibility.2 The ADA standards for accessibility are laid out on our Architectural Barriers page and checklist.

If a person with a disability is not on the ground floor and cannot use stairs, you need to have alternative plans for evacuating. Carrying someone down the stairs is never an acceptable emergency response plan, and staff should never remove a person from their mobility device unless they are asked to do so. If someone has to leave their mobility device in an emergency, their mobility device should still be brought wherever they go. Depending on the situation, emergency responders likely have the best equipment to assist a person in evacuating from an upper level.

Unless they are injured, a person with a disability should never be institutionalized in a hospital or nursing home just because there is a natural disaster or emergency.

Create Areas of Refuge

Where there is not an accessible way to exit the building, “create areas of refuge,” or a predetermined safe area where people should gather in an emergency. People who cannot exit the building can gather at an area of refuge and wait for help to arrive. It’s important to make sure that the area of refuge is on an accessible route and that the location itself is safe during emergencies. In your emergency response plan, make sure your staff know where it is so that authorities and emergency respondents can be informed of its location as soon as they arrive.

Accessible Emergency Alarms

Another important factor to consider is how people inside are alerted to an emergency. For those who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing, having a visual signal (like a flashing light) is important to make sure everyone is alerted to potential danger. For blind or low-vision individuals, an audible warning is necessary to signal they need to evacuate. Having warning devices with a visual and audible component is the best way to ensure that everyone can be alerted and start to exit the building.3

Preparing Staff

When onboarding staff, ensure that you review your emergency response plan and take extra time to make sure employees know the accessible exit routes and other disability-specific elements of the plan. When employees are hired, or as you’re developing your emergency response plan, make sure to ask staff what accommodations they may require during an emergency.

By allowing the individual to tell you their needs, you can better support them and ensure their safety. Make sure that you are asking individuals if and how they want help before acting. Some conditions may be worsened by improperly moving them out of their mobility equipment, while others may not need the assistance and want to act independently.

While emergency response plans are not specifically required under the ADA, it is important to take people with disabilities into account while creating an emergency response plan for your business. Being prepare will ensure that anyone with a disability is able to exit and get through the emergency safely.