An Investigation of Best Practices for Evacuating and Sheltering Individuals with Special Needs and Disabilities

At the request of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) conducted a literature search and review to identify best practices in school building design for accommodating the evacuation and sheltering needs of individuals with special needs or disabilities. This article explains that little material exists that is specific to schools, and how the Americans with Disabilities Accessiblity Guidelines have become the de facto "best design practices" foe evacuation procedures for students and school personnel with disabilities. It highlights special considerations for evacuation procedures as well as for the strategy of sheltering in place.