In an effort to support the safety of all students, evacuation plans must be completed for students with limited mobility, behavior, or cognitive concerns.

Students with mobility needs who are dependent on adult support for ambulation are at risk during emergency building evacuation. In order to ensure safe and speedy building evacuation during an emergency, it is important to have a written plan in place to support the needs of each individual student. A physical therapist (PT) may recommend an evacuation plan for a student with mobility concerns. This will require a written Evacuation Plan in order to ensure safe evacuation from the school building while attending school. The plan should outline a general description of the student, the evacuation method that is recommended, the staff designated to support the student, and the training necessary to ensure the safety of the evacuation.

Evacuation Plan templates are available on the PPS website under Special Education Forms: https://www.pps.net/Page/589.

This plan may differ depending on the student's ability to ambulate. This may range from adult supervision to the use of 2 adults to manage the use of evacuation chairs.

Evacuation plan completion, equipment placement, and staff training is a collaborative effort between teachers, physical therapists, building safety teams, and is overseen by the district's Risk Management department.

The role of the school-based physical therapist may include the following:

• Identification students with mobility needs

• Identification of support/equipment needed

• Recommendation of specific evacuation equipment

• Collaboration with school teams regarding evacuation needs

• Referral of student to Risk Management for further support

• Initiating evacuation plan forms for students with motor impairments

• Staff training regarding student transfers into/out of evacuation chairs - this does not cover staff training regarding the use of the evacuation chair.

It is important to note that Risk Management provides set-up and placement of the evacuation chairs in the school buildings. They will also provide staff training regarding the facilitation of the evacuation chair in and out of the building.