# Presentation: 335853

## U.S.  Department of EducationEmergency Response and Crisis Management Initiative

**Notes:**
Incorporating special needs populations into emergency response.
We don’t have all the answers.
One district’s experience.

## Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

- Located on the border of West Philadelphia
- 8 square miles with a population of approximately 90,000
- 22 Schools  (14 public & 8 non-public)
- 18,000 students total
- 4,000 students in Upper Darby High School

## Upper Darby School District Safe Schools 

- Long history of safe schools initiatives
- On-going training of administrators and staff
- Regular drills
- Collaboration among safe schools partners
- Several incidents highlighted our need to focus on special needs populations.

**Notes:**
Over 10 years.
County-Wide Effort.
MOU’s with local agencies.
Trainings and Drills.
All the planning and training highlighted our vulnerabilities.

## Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) Special Needs Project Goal

-    To increase the district’s, schools’, and partners’ capacity to effectively respond to students with special needs in an emergency or crisis, most notably special education students and students who do not speak English.

##   	Autistic Support 			   Program 

Students with autism have 
unique needs during drills 
and emergencies due 
to their disability. 

- Students with autism have
- unique needs during drills
- and emergencies due
- to their disability.

## Professional Meeting

- Brainstorming session with principal and teachers
- about emergency preparedness and response led
- to the following outcomes:
- Need for additional items in the Go-Kit.
- Identification of need for classroom teacher to remain with students with autism at all times.
- Need for evacuation site with separate area for Autistic Support Program.

## Classroom Go-Kits

- Teachers in the Autistic Support Program created
- Go-Kits that include the following items:
- Headsets
- Sensory toys
- Snacks
- Picture Time Line

## Drill Planning Meeting

- Lockdown and evacuation drill with bus transportation planned.
- Participants:
- 	-School Crisis Team Members
- 	-Upper Darby School District Transportation
-      Department
- 	-Upper Darby School District Senior Safety
-      Officer
- 	-Upper Darby Township Emergency
-      Management Services
- 	-First Responders

## Summary of Lockdown & Evacuation Drill 

- School-wide lockdown & evacuation to off-site location.
- Go-kits.
- Teachers remained with their students.
- Bus transportation.
- Separate area at evacuation site for Autistic Support Program.
- Students returned to school at the conclusion of the drill.

**Notes:**
Pre-meeting with Principal and crisis team members and first responders.
School placed in lock-down---teachers used go-kit materials-- each room was cleared by police.
Students bused to local fire house.
AS students held in separate area with items in go kit.

## Drill Outcome

- All students and staff participated safely in the drill.
- Feedback from first responders about the school’s actions was positive.
- Principal from nearby elementary school observed.  Her school is also a potential evacuation site for school.  She is better informed.
- Preparation made a difference.

**Notes:**
Principal from St. Eugene’s
Communication with experts---teachers made a difference.
	TO MARGIE

## Research on Autism & Emergency Response

- The following experts were consulted to enhance
- our understanding of autism and emergency
- response:
- Autistic Support Staff
- Parent advocates
- Autism advocacy organization

## Autism & First Responders

- Upper Darby School District purchased training video on autism for Upper Darby Police. They incorporated the video into yearly training program.
- Upper Darby School District provided a 1 hour training on autism & the Autistic Support Program to firefighters and paramedics.

## Win-Win

- Upper Darby School District had the opportunity to share some basic information about their students.
- First responders earned training hours and gained a better understanding of what they may encounter when coming to our schools.
- Training provided a unique opportunity for  dialogue between the school and first responders.

## Contact Information

- Margie Bates
- Upper Darby School District
- 4611 Bond Avenue
- Drexel Hill, PA 19026
- Telephone: (610) 789-7200