Emergency Procedures

for Employees with

Disabilities in

Office Occupancies

Federal Emergency

Management Agency

United States Fire

Administration
This document was scanned from hard copy to portable document format (PDF)

and edited to 99.5% accuracy. Some formatting errors not detected during the

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements .......................... ii

n

I. Introduction ............................. 1

Detection ............................. . 2

Notification. ............................ 2

Movement ............................. 3

How to Proceed. ......................... 3

n

II. Planning ............................. . . 4

Identifying Special Needs. .................. 4

Discussion With the Individual .............. 5

Put It in Writing ......................... 5

Periodic Review ......................... 5

n

III. Special Equipment/Devices ............... 7

Notification Appliances .................... 7

Movement Aids/Equipment ................ 9

Elevators. ............................. 12

Miscellaneous Devices. ................... 12

Sprinklered Buildings .................... 12

Areas of Refuge/Rescue Assistance .......... 13

n

IV. Providing Assistance .................... 14

Identifying Those With Special Needs ........ 14

Buddy Systems and Fire Wardens ........... 14

Spontaneous Assistance Techniques ......... 16

Fire Department Coordination. ............. 20

After Working Hours. .................... 20

n

V. Glossary ............................... 21

Critical Language. ....................... 24

n

VI. Resources ............................. 25

n

VII. References ........................... 26
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With funding from the United States Fire

Administration, this guide was develop by the

National Institute of Standards and Technology

with assistance from the National Task Force on

Life Safety and People with Disabilities.

For additional copies of this publication write to:

United States Fire Administration

16825 South Seton Avenue

Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727

Review Panel

The following individuals comprised our Review

Panel. Their willingness to serve through the

planning session, resource, draft review.... sometimes at a moment’s notice and always ready

with advice and information for inclusion in this

guide.

Brian Black

Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association

Marianne Cashatt

Consultant. Disability Awareness/Public Relations

Alan Clive

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Eunice Fiorito

Rehabilitation Services Administration

Victor Galloway

Rehabilitation Services Administration

Anne Hirsh

Job Accommodation Network, affiliate of PCEPWD

Marsha Mazz

U.S. Architectural 6 Transportation Barriers Compliance

Board

Bill Scott

Abilities Unlimited

Certain commercial equipment or products are identified in

this guide as representative examples of products which are

available for the purposes discussed. Such identification does

not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government nor does it

imply that the equipment identified is necessarily the best

available for the purpose.

ii
INTRODUCTION

People with

disabilities are increasingly moving

into the mainstream

of society, contributing to the diversity

which has been this

country’s strength.

It is only right that

they be provided

with the same level

of safety as the rest

of society, as referenced in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Equipment and procedures exist that

can provide such

safety for any person with a disability

that is not so severe

that it would preclude the ability to

work. The key

points regarding

finding the best

solution for your

building are, first, to

remember that

every person with a

disability has unique

abilities and limitations, and accommodations should

be tailored to their

needs. Second, it is

crucial that the person be included in

the decision on

which equipment

and procedures will

work for them to

provide them with

the confidence that

they will be protected.

It is every

employer’s responsibility to provide a

safe place for all

employees to work.

Employees with disabilities are entitled

to THE SAME level

of safety as everyone else (no

more/no less). The

“reasonable accommodation” as mandated in ADA is

intended only to

provide this same

level of safety and

utility as is provided

to everyone.

Further, we cannot

predict when any

one of us may need

assistance, such as

in the case of a broken leg or the development of heart disease.

The underlying

principle in providing safety from fire

and smoke in buildings is that of safe

egress: the efficient

relocation of building occupants to an

area of safety usually outside the building. This depends

on several steps.

First, we must provide for detection

of a fire, before it

can interfere with

the movement of

people. Next comes

notification of the

people that a potential danger exists

and that evacuation

to a predetermined

point of safety

should begin. Third

is the movement of

people through the

building spaces to a

protected exitway

by which they can

leave the building.

The techniques

for detection, notification and movement are

generally appropriate

for anyone in any

setting, but there are

some exceptions.

For example, special

considerations are

required with regard

to movement in the

case of the “limited

mobility” of the

patients in health

care occupancies and

the “limitations

imposed” on the

occupants in correctional occupancies.

Both of these occupancies require special considerations

with regard to movement, or a higher

1
level of protection

(such as “defend in

place”), which does

not require movement. For other

occupancies, the

presence of individuals with temporary

or permanent disabilities requires

some additional

planning.

The purpose of

this guide is to provide information for

facilities managers

and may be useful

for those individuals

who might need

special assistance as

to the notification of

an emergency situation and/or in the

evacuation of a

building. The information includes

examples of equipment available as

well as suggestions

on procedures and

comments on some

of the advantages

and the disadvantages. By starting

with the same information, options can

be discussed and a 

decision on the best 

approach to providing for the individ

uals needs can be

made. This discussion is a crucial step

because each person’s capabilities and

limitations are

unique; thus plans

must be designed to

meet the needs of

the individual to be

most effective.

Detection

The detection

of fires is generally

accomplished by

automatic systems

that do not require

human intervention.

Generally, no special

accommodations are

needed for people

with disabilities.

One exception

is where manual

pull stations are provided in public

buildings by which

persons can initiate

a fire alarm if they

discover a fire before

it is detected by the

automatic system.

In recent years,

codes have been

revised to require

that these manual

pull stations be

mounted at a height

to be within the

"reach range" of 48"

to 54" for the person in a wheel chair.

Facility managers

Alarms: Strobe and Horn, left, and Strobe for the Hearing

Impaired, right, are “ADA” and “UL Standard 1971” compliant.

should also consider

that not all people

possess the strength

and/or dexterity to

operate some of the

manual pull station

devices (e.g., those

with arthritis or

quadriplegia).

Notification

Notification

refers to the process

of informing occupants that an emergency exists and

that some action is

needed. In most

cases, this action is

simply to evacuate,

and the quantity of

information to be

given is only this

fact. Traditionally,

notification of an

emergency has been

accomplished by

audible devices,

which are effective

for all but those

with hearing impairments. Recently,

visible devices (high

intensity flashing

lights) are being

used along with the

audible devices to

broaden the range

of notification effectiveness.

In larger buildings, emergency

evacuation may

involve relocation to

a safe area within

the building or

sequencing evacuation by floor or area

so as not to overload

the stairways. In

such cases, the

amount of information that must be

provided to occupants is substantially

greater. This is typically done audibly,

through emergency

2
paging systems.

These are effective

for all except those

with hearing impairments where textural displays, (television monitors or

scrolling text signs)

are located throughout the building, or

portable devices

(tactile/vibratory

pagers) have been

utilized effectively.

Movement

By far, the

greatest range of

special needs exists

in the area of movement of persons to

safe areas. People

using wheelchairs or

with other obvious

mobility disabilities

come immediately

to mind; but, there

are many who may

not appear to have a

disability who will

also require some

special assistance.

Permanent

conditions such as

arthritis or temporary conditions such

as a sprained ankle

or a broken leg can

limit one’s ability to

evacuate quickly

and safely. Heart

disease, emphysema,

asthma, or pregnancy can reduce stamina to the point of

needing assistance

when moving down

many flights of stairs.

One major

challenge is the

identification of

those individuals

who may need the

special assistance.

Consider persons

with emphysema,

asthma and other

respiratory conditions who may perform well in a drill

but then experience

problems in an actual emergency situation, as learned in

the World Trade

Center evacuation

as a result of the

February 1993

bombing. The people with respiratory

conditions who

were interviewed,

described the terror

they experienced

when faced with the

grim reality of

extreme exertion

required to escape

down the many

flights of stairs in

unfamiliar and

smoke-filled stair

towers. They also

explained that prior

to that emergency

evacuation they had

never considered

themselves as having a disability that

would qualify them

as potential candidates for inclusion

in the emergency

evacuation plans for

those requiring special assistance.

How to Proceed

There will

always be someone

who will need some

special assistance in

the event of a fire or

other emergency

requiring evacuation. Thus, identifying these individuals

is essential, never

losing sight of the

fact that some of

these people may

not recognize their

own need for assistance. In addition,

allowances for visitors present in the

building must also

be made.

Once identified,

individuals should

be consulted about

their specific limitations and how best

to provide assistance. Finally, the

methods for accommodation and assistive devices should

be selected and discussed. This is necessary to assure a safe

“emergency” evacua

tion from the building for the individual

with a disability.

The remainder

of this guide is intended to present

the range of possible

approaches to the

accommodation of

special needs along

with the advantages

and disadvantages.

From this, it is

expected that the

facility management

and the affected

individuals can make

a more informed

decision on what

approach would

work best for the

specific conditions

present. All concerned should operate with a common

understanding of the

options so that an

optimum solution

can be reached.

3
II. PLANNING

Identifying

Special Needs

While the

Americans with

Disabilities Act of

1990 (ADA) does

not require formal

emergency plans,

Titles I and III do

require that policies

and procedures of

public accommoda -

tions be modified to

include people with

disabilities. The

facility emergency

plan which may

already have provisions for individuals

with limited mobility must now include

all the other classifications of disabilities

as covered in the

ADA. These include:

n Individuals with

varying degrees of

mobility impairments, ranging from

slow walkers to

wheelchair users.

n Individuals who

are visually

impaired and may

require special assistance in learning the

emergency evacuation routes or assistance in proceeding

down exit stairs.

Intele-Modem converts a personal computer into a TDD. It

also automatically converts PC (ASCII) to TDD (Baudot);

directly connects to phone lines; automatically detects both

Baudot and ASCII calls; and is FCC approved.

Clarity Phone with built-in equalizer automatically tunes,

tones and balances sounds to improve clarity, making words

clearer, not just louder. The phone is designed to help those

with high frequency hearing loss, a problem affecting 95% of

the people who are hard-of-hearing. The Clarity adjustment

controls set the high frequency that is right for each individual.

4
n Individuals with

hearing impairments

and who may require

modification to the

standard audible

alarms.

n Individuals with

temporary impairments due to recovery from serious

medical conditions

such as stroke or

traumatic injuries

such as a broken leg

or a sprained ankle

or surgeries such as

a knee or hip

replacement.

n Individuals with

medical conditions

such as respiratory

disorders or pregnancy who may tire

easily, need special

assistance or more

time to evacuate.

n Individuals with

mental impairments

who may become

confused when

challenged with the

unusual activity

during an emergency, lose their

sense of direction, or

may require having

emergency directions that are broken down into simplified steps or basic

concepts.

n Other populations

that need to be considered as being vulnerable, such as visitors or customers

Shake-Up System. 9-V battery smoke detector, signal unit,

and vibrator alert device. Detector and receiver attach to

wall and/or ceiling with a vibrator device placed on the desk.

A smoke detector sends a transmitted signal to the receiver

and activates the vibrator.

with small children

who require extra

time to evacuate

down stairs, or

employees who

work outside the

normal working

hours. All of these

individuals need to

have special provisions or contingencies included in the

emergency plan for

their protection.

Discussion

with the

Individual

Keep in mind

that someone with a

permanent or major

impairment generally knows the best

way to be assisted.

A minute or so spent

talking with the individual will give

you crucial information. People providing assistance should

be trained on how

to help without

causing injury to

themselves or others. This is especially relevant if someone needs to be lifted or carried.

Put in Writing

Identify and

plan for times (of

the day and the

week) plus locations

in the workplace

where the basic life

safety or emergency

contingency plans

have not been put

in place or due, to

some other factor,

might not work.

Periodic Review

Innovative educational techniques

such as role playing

or the use of audiovisual aids might

prove more effective

than more traditional methods of information dissemination used in the

past. Practice using

the elements of sections II and III that

you have selected as

being appropriate

for your workplace.

Practice will instill

confidence in one’s

ability to cope in an

5
emergency. It will

also do more than

anything else to

assure that appropriate lifesaving actions

will be taken during

a real emergency.

Practice consists

of one of three types

of activity, - walk

through procedures,

announced drills or

surprise drills.

Practice separate parts of a plan

one at a time. In

this way you can

concentratc your

efforts on the particular- parts and par.-

ticular individuals

requiring more

extensive practice.

Members of an

emergency response

organization (e.g.,

fire wardens) would

be prime candidates

for this practice

This is also a way of

introducing newly

hired employees in

the workplace to

important parts of

the plan.

Announced Drills

As with the

walk through procedures, this is intended more to train than

to evaluate. Such

drills will help identily crucial coordination activities and

communication links.

Surprisc Drills

Use these drills

infrequently. Depending on the situation, this might be

done once or twice

each year. Surprise

drills should involve

some realistic elements (e.g., blocked

exits.) 

Panic has rarely

been reported, either

in drills or in actual

emergencies.

Ultratec Superprint ES This

portable, 20-character display Telecommunications

Device for the Deaf (TDD)

provides printed records of

conversations and optional

auto-answer.

Walk through

Procedures

6
III. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT/DEVICES

Notification

Appliances

The disability

that most affects the

process of notification of an emergency condition is

hearing impairment.

Hearing impairments

can range from mild

hearing loss to an

extreme of profound

deafness, the level at

which individuals

receive no benefit

from aural input.

Many persons

who are hearing impaired can use their

residual hearing

effectively with assistance from hearing

aids or other sound

amplification devices,

often augmented by

lip reading.

All-in-One Carrying Case includes: TDD; telephone signaler;

telephone amplifier; door knock signaler; telecaption decoder;

notification vibrator; and visual/audio smoke detector.

However, hearing aids also amplify

background sounds,

and the sound of

the emergency

alarms may interfere

with or even drown

out voice announcements of an emergency, voice communication system.

Systems used

for emergency notification must comply with UL1971,

the Underwriters

This device was used in

the study conducted in

1988 by Underwriters

Laboratories to evaluate

alternative signaling systems that would alert persons with hearing impairments to fires and other

emergency conditions.

The study established

guidelines for the use and

installation of the devices

covered in “Standard 1971.”

Laboratories Standard for Emergency

Signaling Devices for

the Hearing Impaired.

The signaling devices covered in the

UL 1971 standard are

designed to alert

persons with hearing impairments

through the use’ of

light, vibrations, and

air movement.

Many hotels

post a sign at the

desk to makc deal

or hearing impaired

guests aware that

rooms with strobe

lights arc available.

In some government buildings,

employees who are

deaf or hard of hearing

have been provided

with tactile/vibratory

pagers to notify

them when a fire

alarm has been

activated.

Building managers who wish to

provide wheelchair

assist equipment for

use by visitors can

receive assistance in

selecting appropriate

devices from one of

the groups in the

Resources section on

page 25.

7
Audible Pedestrian

Systems

Another example of audible signs

Tactile SignageRaised Text and

Braille

Braille signs

have been installed at

some locations in

buildings to assist

individuals with visual impairments. You

may have noticed

these raised patterns

of dots on elevator

control panels. The

problem with the use

of such labels to mark

egress doors is that

the person must be at

the door in order to

feel the label. Thus,

they provide no

directional guidance

on how to find the

door in the first place.

Audible

Directional

Signage

Audible remote

signage is a way of informing individuals

who are visually impaired of what they

need to know about

their environment.

Audible directional instructions

arc transmitted by

low power radio

waves or infrared

beams. The signal/

instructions are then

picked up by a small

receiver carried by

the individual (e.g.,

“the exit is 25 steps

south of the front

desk,” or simply

“stairway, ” “restroom,”

or “elevator”) act as

signals when one

approaches a stairway, rest -room or

elevator.

Talking SignsTM provide people who are blind with the directional and usage clues that traditional visual signs provide for

sighted persons. By sending information from installed

infrared transmitters these signs speak for themselves.

Hand held sensors pick up information from the transmitters

and give verbal directions to the blind individual (see illustration above). These signs are installed in the San Francisco

Municipal Railway and Bay Area Rapid Transit District.

8
is the common

pedestrian traffic

signal. These signs

“cuckoo” and

“chirp” to alert pedestrians to changing

traffic signals. But,

these devices have

some inherent limitations for those

with learning disabilities. They are

not currently in use

for emergency egress

systems within

buildings, although

there are exit signs

available that flash

and sound internal

horns when activated by the building

fire alarm system.

Movement

Aids/Equipment

Another area

where disabilities

impact on emergency egress is with

mobility limitations.

This is most frequently associated

with wheelchair

users. Here we

should be sensitive

to the fact that

wheelchairs represent mobility and

are frequently fitted

to accommodate the

specific physical

needs of the user.

Thus, whether evacuated with or without their wheelchairs, they will

need their own

chairs when they

reach safety for both

physical and psychological reasons.

Permanently

Installed Systems

There are several types of controlled descent

devices that can be

permanently

installed within

stairways to accommodate wheelchair

users. In some, the

individual transfers

from the wheelchair

to the portable, controlled descent chair.

Some models permit

a relatively small

person to transport

a larger person

while with other

devices, the individuals ideally should

be about the same

weight. These

chairs are designed

to travel down stairs

on special tracks

with friction braking

systems, rollers or

other devices to

control the speed of

descent.

Another type of

controlled descent

device is designed so

the wheelchair user

rolls onto the transport device and the

wheelchair is

secured to the

device. This has the

advantage that the

wheelchair user

does not have to be

separated from the

chair - a situation

that will be more

comfortable and

reassuring.

The wheelchair

lift is a motor-driven

device designed to be

installed in a stairway. Vertical wheelWheelchair lifts for use

indoors,top, and for use

outdoors, bottom.

9
Garaventa EVACU-TRACT M

Developed in Switzerland

Top Convenient, top of

stair storage. Middle.

1. Brake system engages

when lever is released;

2. Adjustable safety belts;

3. Rubber tracks grip

stairs; 4. Eight auxiliary

wheels for smoother ride

on flat surfaces, such as

stair landings. Bottom:

Designed so a passenger’s

weight propels it down

stairs. Governor limits the

maximum descent speed.

EVAC+CHAIR TM‘300-H’

Top Folds for on-the-job

storage. Can be readily

available for emergencies

Middle- Unfolds/opens

quickly and Weighs only

15 pounds but has a 300Ib.

capacity. Cantilevered

design places seat inches

above stairs. Other features: sliding head rest;

quick-release safety belt

buckle; and instructions

permanently stamped on

back. Bottom: Changes the

obstacle of firestairs into

usable escape route for

all, e.g., pregnant women,

the frail or employees with

limited stamina, or someone with a temporary

disability.

10
Scalamobil T M

Stairclimbing and power

unit, invented in Germany

Three-step process for

use. Top: First, attach handles to the Scalamobil.

Second, attach Scalamobil to wheelchair. Third,

begin operation. Middle:

12V/12AH power base.

Bottom: Operator’s safety

features include: automatic mechanical security

brakes on every wheel;

variable speed control

from 6-12 steps per

minute, and ability to park

the wheelchair safely on

any step during ascent or

descent. Designed to

negotiate most all stairs,

from the extremely narrow

stair to curving circular

stairs.

Chair lifts arc differentiated from elevators in that they arc’

limited in the height

of their vertical lift,

arc not enclosed, and

do not go through a

floor level. These

lifts were originally the wheelchair user

intended for private as to the selection of

residences, but are an emergency evacnow being used in uation chair. The

nursing homes, advantages or disadchurches and public vantages of these

buildings. devices are depenAlways consult dent on the capabiliEvacuation Assistance Device

A three-person, assisted-wheelchair-carry device,

called “Evac-uStraps,” was developed by a wheelchair user. It consists of wide padded

leather wrist bands

with velcro closures

equipped with large

metal grasping

hooks. The hooks

are designed to be

attached to both

sides of the front of

the wheelchair.

Persons on either

side of the wheelchair grasp the

straps and are

assisted by a third

person behind,

keeping the wheelchair slightly tipped

backwards. The

wheelchair user

assists by handbraking the wheels. Photos by Jake Pauls, Building

Use and Safety Institute

1 1
ties, acceptance, and

understanding of the

end user(s). The

effectiveness or failure of evacuation

chairs as a rule can

be attributed to the

fact that the wheelchair user was not

consulted as to the

equipment selection.

Chairs that do not

accommodate the

physical needs of the

user create problems

which may lead to a

refusal to use them

in an emergency.

Elevators

Most people are

familiar with the fact

that elevators are not

to be used for emergency egress and are

so marked in most

buildings. Elevator

codes require that

when smoke detectors in elevator lobbies activate, the elevator is recalled to

the ground floor (as

long as the ground

floor smoke detector

is not the one that

alarmed) and is

taken out of service.

The fire department

can operate the elevator with a special

key and may use it

to move their people

and equipment, or

for evacuation of

occupants. This

means that without

the fire department,

persons with disabilities are relegated

to the stairs or must

await rescue.

In recent years

(especially since the

1993 World Trade

Center bombing ),

there has been a

growing interest in

providing elevators

that can be used for

emergency evacua -

tion. In a study conducted for the General Services Administration (GSA), the

National Institute of

Standards and

Technology (NIST)

found that the use of

both elevators and

stairs can improve

evacuation times by

as much as 50%

over stairs alone.

However, elevators that are used

for emergency evacuation need to be

specially designed to

assure their reliability and safety during

the fire. NIST

research has shown

that, with enclosed

lobbies at each floor

which are pressurized through the

shaft so that both

remain smoke free,

dual power systems

for reliability, and

water resistant components to prevent

failure due to flooding of the shaft by

firefighting water, it

is feasible to design

elevators that are sufficiently safe to allow

their continued use

for emergency evacuation. (Feasibility of

Fire Evacuation by Elevators at FAA Control

Towers, NISTIR 5445,

1994.)

Miscellaneous

Devises

A number of

unique escape

devices have been

developed over the

years. These include

controlled descent

devices using cables

and chutes of various types. The cable

devices usually use a

strap or chair secured to the cable

by a device that is

squeezed to allow

descent. The more

you squeeze, the

faster you go. Letting go stops your

descent. Most people are reluctant to

evacuate down the

outside of a building.

The chutes may

be solid or flexible

labric tubes that

generally rely on

friction to control

speed. They have

the advantage that

they don’t let you

see out, so they are

more acceptable

than cable devices.

However, their

acceptance in practice in this country

has been limited.

There is little

information available

as to the performance of these devices

in emergency situations. These unique

specialized escape devices generally have

serious shortcomings.

( Egress Procedures 

Technologies for People

with Disabilities. Final

Report of a State of

the Art Review with

Recommendations

for Action, ATBCB

1988.)

Sprinklered

Buildings

In a study of

areas of refuge conducted by NIST for

the GSA, it was con1 2
cluded that the circumstances, prooperation of a prop- vide the protection

erly designcd and to permit evacuation

maintained sprinkler that is limited to the

system eliminates area under immedithe life threat to ate threat from the

building occupants fire. In sprinklered

regardless of their buildings it would

individual abilities probably be approand can provide priate to put more

superior protection emphasis on underfor people with dis- standing of the proabilities. Sprinkler tection afforded or

systems will, in most provided with the

sprinklers and about

limited evacuation

through horizontal

exits versus total

evacuation from the

building.

Of course, while

about 95% reliable,

there is a small possibility that the sprinkler system will fail

to extinguish the fire.

For these possibilities, there need to be

contingency plans for

providing evacuation

assistance for all

occupants, including

those needing special

assistance.

Area of Refuge/Rescue Assistance

Inside of Exit Stairways

Area of Refuge/

Rescue Assistance

Even in buildings equipped with

sprinkler systems it

is recommended

that areas of refuge

be provided. There

is the small possibility that the sprinkler

system will fail to

extinguish the fire

and there is the

problem of smoke

propagation. It is

quite possible for a

person with a disability to be stranded and overcome

with smoke before

the arrival of the

rescue personnel,

given the difficulty

in locating someone

in a smoke-filled

building. For these

possibilities, there

need to be contingency plans for providing evacuation

assistance for all

occupants, as well as

those needing special assistance.

A Horizonal Exit Can Meet the

Requirement for Areas of

Rescue Assistance

1 3
IV. PROVIDING ASSISTANCE

Identifying

Those with

Special Needs

Before special

accommodations

can be made, persons needing them

must be identified.

One strategy is to

maintain a listing of

individuals needing

assistance and keeping it current as part

of the facility’s

emergency plan. At

the beginning of

employment during

the orientation

process is the time

to begin to stress the

importance of identifying if an individual will need special

assistance. Of

course, since conditions change and

persons can become

temporarily disabled, this system

needs to be flexible.

"Buddy"

Systems and

Fire Wardens

Such lists must

be accessible by the

emergency personnel to assist in the

emergency evacuation. But, it should

be understood that

there are many individuals who are protective of their right

to independence and

privacy and who

may be reluctant to

have their names

put on such a list.

Some disability categories are easily recognizable and in

these cases the indvidual can be approached as to what

can be done to assist them in emergency evacuation.

It is important

to treat the individual as one who happens to have a particular disability, and

not make the mistake of “lumping”

together all persons

with disabilities in

the development of

emergency procedurcs. There are

some emergency

plans (and codes on

which they are

based) where all

persons with disabilities were “directed”

to go to the area of

rescue assistance to

await members of

the emergency team

to escort them to

safety. As a general

rule there is no reason that individuals

who are blind or

deaf cannot use the

stairs to make an

independent escape

as long as they can

cffectively be notified of the need to

evacuate and can

find the stairway).

 One of thc

lessons learned from

interviews of people

with disabilities following the February

1993 World Trade

Center bombing was

that, prior to the

incident, some of

the people with disabilities said that, in

the interest of privacy or because they

felt that they did not

need special assistance, they) had

opted not to identity)

themselves to be

among those listed

as disabled in the

emergency management plan. They

realized after the

incident that they

did need assistance

and that they had

not realized how

vulnerable they

were outside of normal working hours

when there were

few co-workers

around to provide

such assistance.

Buddy systems

are widely accepted

and used, but have

some inherent faults

or flaws. When set

ting up such a system in the workplace, consider the

following potential

problem areas and

potential solutions.

To be effective, the

person and the

buddy must be able

to make contact

with each other

quickly when the

need arises. Situations that can prevent this include:

n The “buddy” is in

the building, but is

absent from the customary work area

n The “buddy” cannot locate the person with a disability

because the person

is absent from the

customary work

area

14
n The employee

with a disability is

working late, etc.,

when the “buddy” is

unavailable

n The “buddy” has

left the company)

and a new one has

yet to be identified

n The “buddy” has

not been trained in

what to do or how

to assist

n The “buddy” is

inappropriate (e.g.,

not strong enough)

n The “buddy” isn’t

acceptable to the

employee with a

disability

n The “buddy” forgets or is frightened

and abandons the

employee with a

disability

Now, consider

the lollowing potential solutions:

n Assign at least

“two buddies” who

are work associates.

Alert the floor warden about the work

location of the person with a disability.

n If he/she cannot

locate the assigned

person, the “buddy”

should alert the

floor warden. Employees could be

given pagers.

n Employees with

disabilities should

identify themselves

to the officials in the

emergency control

center when in the

building after hours.

The officials coordinate immediate

emergency response,

call the employee

and alert responding

fire service.

n Employees with

disabilities can be

given the responsibility for selecting

their own “buddies”;

bimonthly emergency plan reviews

should include

checking the status

of’ “buddies.”

n The “buddy” is

trained by the

employee with a

disability as soon as

they are recruited.

n The employee

with a disability is

encouraged to select

only “buddies” who

are capable. Practice

sessions are required

to ensure that “buddies” can handle

their assigned tasks.

n Employees with

disabilities are

encouraged to select

only friends/colleagues as “buddies.”

New York City leads the nation in a

number of techniques for addressing fire

safety in tall buildings, including the designation of fire wardens. Under Local Law 5,

a fire warden is assigned for each floor of a

building, and is responsible for the safe

evacuation of persons on that floor. The

fire warden knows who is and is not at

work that day, what visitors are present,

and who might need assistance in case of

emergency. New York fire wardens take

required training at regular intervals. The

law also requires a building fire safety

manager whose full-time job is to keep fire

emergency plans up to date and who coordinates the activities of the fire wardens

with the fire service during an emergency.

1 5
Spontaneous

Assistance

Techniques

Vision

Impairments

When assisting

persons with vision

impairments there

are some basic. rules

to follow in order to

be effective.

n Announce your

presence; speak out

when entering the

work area.

n Speak naturally

and directly to the

individual and NOT

through a third

party. Do not shout.

n Don’t be afraid to

use words like “see,”

“look,” or “blind.”

n Offer assistance

but let the person

explain what help is

needed.

n Describe the

action to be taken in

advance.

n Let the individual

grasp your arm or

shoulder lightly, for

guidance. He/she

may choose to walk

slightly behind you

to gauge your body

reactions to obstacles; be sure to mention, stairs, doorways, narrow passages, ramps, etc.

n When guiding to a

seat, place the person's hand on the

back of the chair.

n It leading several

individuals with

visual impairments

at the same time,

ask them to hold

each other’s hands.

n You should ensure

that after exiting the

building that individuals with impaired vision are not

abandoned” but are

led to a place of

safety, where a colleague(s) should

remain with them

until the emergency)

is over. Another of

the lessons learned

from the World

Trade Center incident involved the

complaints of blind

tenants who after

being escorted down

Hearing

Impairments

Suggestions When Assisting

Owners of Dog Guides

n Do not pet or offer the dog food without the permission of the owner.

n When the dog is wearing its harness, he

is on duty; if you want the dog not to

guide its owner, have the person remove

the dog’s harness.

n Plan for the dog to be evacuated with

the owner.

n In the event you are asked to take the

dog while assisting the individual, it is recommended that you (the helper) hold the

leash and not the dog’s harness.

and out of the

building, were

unceremoniously

left in the unfamiliar environs out-ofdoors in the midst

of a winter ice

storm, where they

had to negotiate ice

covered sidewalks

and falling glass

from overhead.

When assisting

persons with hearing impairments

there are also some

things to keep in

mind. These

include:

n Flick the lights

when entering the

work area to get the

person’s attention.

n Establish eye contact with the individual, even if an

interpreter is

present.

n Face the light, do

not cover or turn

your face away, and

never chew gum.

16
n Use facial expressions and hand gestures as visual cues.

n Check to see if

you have been

understood and

repeat if necessary.

n Offer pencil and

paper. Write slowly

and let the individual read as you

write. Written communication may be

especially important

if you are unable to

understand the individual’s speech.

n Do not allow others to interrupt or

joke with you while

conveying the emergency information.

n Be patient, the

individual may have

difficulty comprehending the urgency

of your message.

n Provide the individual with a flashlight for signaling

their location in the

event that they are

separated from the

rescuing team or

buddy and to facilitate lip-reading in

the dark.

Learning

Disabilities

Persons with

learning disabilities

may have difficulty

in recognizing or

being motivated to

act in an emergency

by untrained rescuers. They may

also have difficulty

in responding to

instructions which

involve more than a

small number of

simple actions.

Some suggestions

for assisting such

persons include:

n Their visual perception of written

instructions or signs

may be confused.

n Their sense of

direction may be

limited, requiring

someone to accom

pany them.

n Directions or

information may

need to be broken

down into simple

steps. Be patient.

n Simple signals

and/or symbols

should be used (e.g.,

the graphics used

throughout this

section).

n A person’s ability

to understand

speech is often more

developed than

his/her own vocabulary. Do not talk

about a person to

others in front of

him/her.

n The individual

should be treated as

an adult who happens to have a cognitive or learning

disability. Do not

talk down to them

or treat them as

children.

Mobility

lmpairments

Someone using

a crutch or a cane

might be able to

negotiate stairs independently. One

hand is used to

grasp the handrail

the other hand is

used for the crutch

or cane. Here, it is

best NOT to interfere with this person’s movement.

You might be of

assistance by offering to carry the

extra crutch. Also,

if the stairs are

crowded, you can

act as a buffer and

“run interference.”

Wheelchair

users are trained in

special techniques to

transfer from one

chair to another.

Depending on their

upper body

strength, they may

he able to do much

of the, work themselves. If you assist

a wheelchair user,

avoid putting pressure on the person’s

extremities and

chest. Such pressure might cause

spasms, pain and

even restrict breathing. Carrying someone slung over your

shoulders (something like the so

called fireman’s

carry) is like sitting

on their chest and

poses danger for

several individuals

who fall within categories of neurologic

and orthopedic disabilities.

1 7
Carry

Techniques

One-Person Carry

Technique

Two-Person

Carry Technique

— The Swing or

Chair Carry

To use this technique

n Carriers stand on

opposite sides of the

individual

The CRADLE

LIFT is the preferred

method when the

person to be carried

has little or no arm

strength. It is safer

if the person being

carried weighs less

than the carrier’s

weight.

n Take the arm on

your side and wrap

it around your

shoulder.

n Grasp your carry

partner’s forearm

behind the person

in the small of the

hack.

n Reach under the

person’s knees to

grasp the wrist of

your carry partner’s

other hand.

n Both carry partners should then

lean in, close to the

person, and lift on

the count of three.

n Continue pressing

into the person

being carried for

additional support

in the carry.

1 8
The advantage

of this carry is that

the partners can

support (with practice and coordination) a person whose

weight is same or

even greater than

their own weight.

The disadvantage is increased

awkwardness in vertical travel (stair

descent) due to the

increased complexity of the two person

carry. Three persons

abreast may exceed

the effective width

of the stairway.

To Assist in Moving a

Wheelchair Downstairs

When descending stairs, stand

behind the chair grasping the pushing

grips. Tilt the chair backwards until a balance is achieved. Descend frontward.

Stand one step above the chair, keeping

your center of gravity low and let the

back wheels gradually lower to the next

step. Be careful to keep the chair tilted

back. If possible, have another person

assist by holding the frame of the wheelchair and pushing in from the front. But

do not lift the chair, as this places more

weight on the individual behind.

19
Other Impairments Fire Department

Coordination Pregnancy is

not usually considered a disability, but

it can result in reduced

stamina or impaired

mobility, especially

in negotiating stairs.

In these cases, offer to

walk with the woman

and be of support

both emotionally and

physically. Remain

with her until you

have reached safety

and she has a safe,

warm place to sit,

With respiratory disorders,

such as asthma or

emphysema, the

onset of symptoms

can be triggered by

stress, exertion, or

exposure to small

amounts of dust or

smoke. Remind the

individual to bring

inhalation medication before leaving

the work place.

Persons with

cardiac conditions,

should be reminded

to take their medications. Offer them

assistance in walking; they may have

reduced stamina and

require frequent rest

periods.

It is vital to

have a clear understanding through

effective planning

and practice with

the local fire and

rescue services regarding evacuation procedures for persons

with disabilities.

Opinions can vary

among local fire departments, for example:

n Whether individuals with disabilities

should remain in

their workplaces,

assemble in an area

of refuge to await

the arrival of the fire

fighters, or whether

fellow workers should

help with their immediate evacuation.

After Working Hours

Most office fire fatalities occur outside

of normal working hours. Here, fires can

grow unnoticed and persons working alone

can be cut off from their normal egress

route. In many buildings, only a few people working late and the housekeeping staff

are present at night. An employee with a

mobility impairment who has relied on the

elevator for access may need help to get

down the stairs, but trained “buddies” are

unavailable. To compensate, the individual

should alert building security upon entering

the building. Someone will then be ready

to search for and assist the individual to

safety, if needed. Alternatively, the person

could be instructed to telephone the fire

department as to their location when an

emergency occurs.

n What evacuation

techniques are to be

used, in particular

the carry techniques

for getting nonambulatory individuals down the stairs.

n Whether dog

guides should be

permitted to evacuate down the stairway with their owners. There are

examples of the fire

department instruct -

ing that the dog be

Managers should ensure that shift

workers and others who work on the

premises outside normal hours, such as

cleaners, are included. If there are employees whose knowledge of English may be

limited, training should be given in a manner which they can understand. NonEnglish speakers and staff who have poor

reading skills should be considered when

written instructions are being prepared.

separated from its

owner.

Whatever the

plan, what is most

critical is that it be

coordinated and practiced with the local

fire and rescue service.

20
V. GLOSSARY

A

ADA Americans

with Disabilities

Act

ADAAG Americans

with Disabilities

Act Accessibility

Guidelines

Aphasia Absence or

impairment of the

ability to communicate through

speech, writing or

signs

Area of Refuge

Area of Rescue

Assistance An

area that has

direct access to an

exit, where people

who are are unable to use stairs

may remain temporarily in safety

to await further

instructions or

assistance during

emergency evacuation.

D

C

Asthma A complex

disease which

causes obstruction

of the respiratory

system

B

E

Back Pain Can be

caused by congenital conditions, disease or injury, but

for the millions of

people affected by

this condition the

key element is

always the same,

pain.

Blind/Blindness

Range of vision

impairments from

the inability to distinguish light and

dark to a loss of

part of the visual

field or the inability to see detail.

(see definition:

Visually Impaired)

Brailler “Perkins

Brailler,” an allpurpose Braille

writer.

Buddy System The

system of assigning the appropriate

individual(s) to

assist in the evacuation of persons

with disabilities.

Cane As used by

the blind individual, the cane is a

natural extension

of the arm and

hand and is used

as an “information

gathering” device

(to locate familiar

landmarks) for the

purpose of establishing a clear path

of travel. The

conventional twopoint touch system: The cane is

moved from side

to side in an arcing

motion. The width

of the arc is usually two inches to

either side of the

shoulders. As the

cane touches to

the left, the right

foot should be forward. The cane tip

touches in the

opposite direction

of the leading foot.

Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary

Disease (COPD)

Includes the diseases of chronic

bronchitis and

emphysema.

Cerebrovascular

Accident (CVA)

Localized brain

damage due to a

ruptured blood

vessel in the brain;

commonly called a

stroke.

Cerebral Palsy

Non-progressive

disorder of the

brain, results from

damage to the

nervous system at

birth or in the first

hours or days of

life; not a disease.

Closed Circuit TV

Magnifier

(CCTV) Consists

of television camera which takes

the picture of the

printed page and a

television monitor

which displays

image in enlarged

form.

Critical Language

Terminology that

is unacceptable

and/or insulting to

persons with disabilities. (see list

on p. 24).

Deaf/Deafness

Range of auditory

impairments, from

a total lack of sensitivity to sound to

reduced sensitivity

to certain sound

frequencies.

Dog Guide Dog

that has been specially trained to

assist people who

are blind, physically disabled or

hearing-impaired.

Epilepsy Condition

characterized by

occasional seizures. A small

fraction of those

with epilepsy are

2 1
photosensitive.

Seizures can be

triggered by flashing lights.

Exercise Induced

Bronchospasm

(EIB) a form of

asthma

F

Fingerspelling

When no sign language exists for a

thought or concept,

the word can be

spelled out using

the American

Manual Alphabet.

G

Guide Dog

Proprietary name

for a dog guide.

H

Handicapped

Critical language

(see list on p. 24).

Hearing impaired

Scale of hearing

impairment ranges

from mild hearing

loss to profound

deafness, the point

at which the individual receives no

benefit from aural

input. Many hardof-hearing persons

are able to use

residual hearing

effectively with

the assistance of

hearing aids (HA)

or other soundamplification

devices, often augmented by lip

reading. Hearing

aids amplify background noises as

well as voices, so

noise caused by

emergency conditions (alarm bells,

people shouting,

sirens, etc.) may

rise to an uncomfortable level for

the person with

the hearing

impairment.

Head Pointer Stick

or rod which is

attached to a person’s head with a

head band so that

by moving the

head, an individual can perform

tasks that would

ordinarily be performed by hand or

finger movement.

Hemiplegia A disability resulting

from a CVA which

involves some

degree of muscle

weakness and

motor skill loss on

one side of the

body.

I

Interpreter

Professional who

assists a deaf person in communicating with hearing people who

cannot sign.

L

Learning

Disability An

individual who

may have difficulty recognizing or

being motivated to

act in an emergency. These individuals may also

have difficulty in

following anything

other than a few

simple instructions.

Little People

General term for

persons of short

stature who are

less than 4’ 10” or

whose height is

significantly below

average.

Low Level Signage/Floor Proximity Exit Signs

are ususally placed

between 6” to 8”

above the floor. A

supplement to the

required exit sign.

The required exit

signs are usually

located over the

exits or near the

ceiling, the first

place to become

obscured by smoke.

Low Vision can be

moderate to severe

vision impairment

which includes

difficulty in reading without magnification and seeing fine detail.

Some persons with

low vision may be

considered legally

blind.

M

Means of Egress

An accessible

means of egress is

one that complies

with these following guidelines: a

continuous and

unobstructed way

of exit travel from

any point in a

building or facility

to a public way. A

means of egress

comprises vertical

and horizontal

travel and may

include intervening room spaces,

doorways, hallways, corridors,

passageways, balconies ramps,

stairs, enclosures,

lobbies, horizontal

22
exits, courts and

yards. Areas of

refuge or evacuation elevators

MAY BE included

as part of accessible means of

egress. (Contact

the authority having jurisdiction or

refer to the building codes for the

local application or

definition.)

Mobility Impaired

Employees with

mobility impairments can vary in

the degree of assistance that they require. The degree

of impairment can

range from walking with a slow

gait (thus requiring more time to

exit), to walking

with a mobility aid

such as a cane,

crutches and/or

braces, to the

wheelchair user.

Monitors/Wardens

Terms used to

identify the different assignments

made in the

Occupant

Emergency Plan.

For example, the

duties of the

Monitor could

include assisting

with the coordination of the evacuation of their floor

or unit, identifying

people with disabilities who

require special

assistance and

coordinating

assignment of

“buddies” or assistants to stay with

them (e.g., see

excerpt from NYC

Fire Drill & Evacuation Rules for

Offices on p. 15).

Mouth Wand Rod

with a tooth grip

that is held in the

mouth and used

to perform tasks

that would normally be performed by hand.

N

Normal Critical

language (see list

on p. 24).

Nystagmus

Uncontrolled

movement of the

eye also noticeable

by (characteristic)

head tilt because it

helps the person

get a better focus

on an object,

thereby to see

better.

O

Optical Character

Reader Device

that can be

scanned over a

printed page, reading the text aloud

through a voice

synthesis system.

These may also

have provision for

reading directly

from a computer

disk containing a

word processor

file.

Opticon Device to

enable a blind person to “read,” consisting of a camera

that converts print

into an image of

letters which are

then produced via

vibrations onto the

finger.

P

Paraplegia

Impairment or loss

of motor and/or

sensory function

in the thoracic,

lumbar or sacral

segments of the

spinal cord, affecting trunk and legs.

Post Polio

Syndrome This

affects individuals

who have recovered from polio.

The symptoms

include an increase

in muscle weakness

and an increase in

respiratory weakness. Usually

necessitates use of

a wheelchair.

Q

Quadriplegia (see

tetraplegia).

S

"Seeing Eye" dog

Proprietary name

for dog guide.

Seizure Involuntary

muscular contraction, a brief impairment or loss of

consciousness, etc.,

resulting from a

neurological condition, such as

epilepsy.

Service AnimaI

Trained dog or

other animal that

provides assistance

to a person who is

blind, deaf or

mobility impaired.

The animal can be

identified by the

presence of a harness or backpack.

Sign Language

Means of communication used by

persons who are

deaf.
Speech Disorder

Limited or difficult

speech patterns or

without speech.

T

Tactile Signage

Signs or labels

with Braille, raised

letters or textured

patterns that can

be read tactilely by

persons with visual impairments.

Tetraplegia

Impairment or loss

of motor and/or

sensory function

in the cervical segments of the spinal

cord, affecting

arms, trunk and

legs.

Text Telephone

Equipment that

includes TTYs and

employs interactive graphic communications

through transmission of coded signals across the

standard telephone network.

V

Victim Critical language (see list to

the right).

Visually Impaired

A person with a

vision impairment

may be totally or

legally blind. Legally blind implies

that a person may

be able to differentiate between light

and dark or see

very large objects,

but may not be

able to see anything clearly

enough to depend

on their vision in

an emergency situation. This can also

include persons

with LOW VISION

who can see well

enough to walk but

cannot read without magnification.

W

Wardens Persons

assigned as coordi -

nators of emergency actions by

occupants of a single floor or part of a

floor of a building.

Critical Language

Persons with disabilities are sensitive to the

use of certain terms which are considered

to be demeaning. When discussing evacuation plans with employees, the following

terms should be avoided.

Ablebodied

Afflicted

Amputee

Cerebral Palsied

Confined to a wheelchair

Courageous

Crippled

Deaf and Dumb

Deaf/mute

Disease

Dwarf

Gimp

Handicapped

Normal

Patient

Physically challenged

Poor

Retard, retardate or retarded

Spastic

Suffering

Unfortunate

Victim

Wheelchair bound

2 4
VI. RESOURCES

ATBCB

U.S. Architectural & Transportation Barriers

Compliance Board

Lawrence W. Roffee, Executive Director

1331 F. Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20004- 1111

voice 1-8OO-USA-ABLE/872-2253

TTY l-800-993-2822

Technical Assistance on Accessibility

Issues & the ADA

PCEPWD

President’s Committee on Employment of

People with Disabilities

Maggie Roffee, Program Manager

1331 “F” Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

voice 202-376-6200

TTY 202-376-6205

JAN

Job Accommodation Network*

Anne E. Hirsh

West Virginia University

P.O. Box 6080

918 Chestnut Ridge Road, Suite 1

Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6080

voice/TTY l-800-526-7234

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association

Learn Not To Burn Foundation

Sharon Gamache, Executive Director

P.O. Box 9101

Batterymarch Park

Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101

voice 617-770-3000

TTY 6 17-984-7880

NEMA

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Malcolm E. O’Hagan, President

2101 L Street, NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20037

voice 202-457-8400

AEMA

Accessibility Equipment Manufacturers Assn.

Terry Nevins-Buchholtz, Administrative Assistant

P.O .Box 51784

2445 South Calhoun Road

New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151

voice 414-789-9890

* An affiliate of PCEPWD

EPVA

Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association

Buffalo Regional Office

Brian Black, Assistant Director

of Building Code Standards

Buffalo Regional Office

111 West Huron Street

Buffalo, New York 14202

voice 716-856-6582

NAD

National Association of the Deaf

Nancy J. Bloch, Executive Director

814 Thayer Avenue

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

voice (301) 587-1788

TTY (301) 587-1789

SHHH

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc.

Donna L. Sorkin, Executive Director

7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

voice 301-657-2248

TTY 301-657-2249

TDI

Telecommunications for the Deaf, Incorporated

Alfred Sonnenstrahl, Executive Director

8719 Colesville Rd, Suite 300

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

voice 301-589-3786

TTY 301-589-3006

One example of reference material available:

1994 National Directory for TTYs with listings

of emergency numbers in the 50 states.

NFB

National Federation of the Blind

Patricia Maurer, Coordinator, Community Relations

1800 Johnson Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998

voice 410-659-9314

ACB

American Council of the Blind

Oral Miller, National Representative

1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 720

Washington, DC 20005

voice 202-467-5081 or 800-424-8666

25
VII. REFERENCES

page 4

Walker Equipment,

a Plantronics ComClarity Phone

pany, P.O. Box 829,

Ringgold, GA 30736

three models for

business use: the

basic model, 2-line

phone & 2-line feature speakerphone.

page 7

Office CaseAlerting System:

(adapted from case

for hotel guest room)

from Weitbrecht

Communications

Devices for the Deaf.

page 9

LABDATATM

page 5, issue Vol.20,

No. 1, 1990 a quarterly technical and

information publication by Underwriters

Laboratories Inc.,

333 Pfingsten Road,

Northbrook, IL 60062.

page 11

SCALAMOBIL, alber

TMI, Technomarketing, Inc, 307

Bacon Road, Rougemont, NC 27572,

voice 919-477-1387

page 7

Mult-Alert

SS 12/24ADA Series

signaling strobes

from System Sensor,

3825 Ohio Ave,

St.Charles, IL 60174,

voice

1-800-SENSOR2.

For further information about accessibility equipment

and manufacturers

contact: Accessibility

Equipment and

Manufacturers’

Association (AEMA),

P.O. Box 51784,

New Berlin, WI

5 3 15 1 , voice/fax

414-789-9900

page4

Intele-Modem

Ultractec T M

450 Science Drive,

Madison, WI 53711,

voice/TDD 608-238-

5400.

page 5

Shake-up 9-V

smoke detector,

receiver & vibrator

from Weitbrecht

Communications

Devices for the Deaf,

2656 29th Street,

Suite 205, Santa

Monica, CA 90405,

voice/TDD 1-800-

233-9130.

page 6

Superprint ESTM

Telecommunication

Device for the Deaf,

from Weitbrecht

Communications

Devices for the Deaf.

page 8

Talking Signs Inc.

8 12 North Blvd.,

Baton Rouge, LA

70802. voice

504-344-28 12.

Talking Signs@ were

developed by the

Smith-Kettlewell

Eye Research

Institute, Love

Electronics, Inc. and

Talking Signs, Inc.

Installation in New

York City, “Light

House for the

Blind,” example of

working system in

the office building

setting.)

page 10

EVACU-TRACTM

Garaventa (Canada)

Ltd., 7505-134A

Street, Surrey, BC,

Canada V3W 7B3,

voice l-800-663-6556

page 10

EVAC+CHAIRTM

Corporation, I7 East

67 Street, New York,

NY 10021, voice

212-734-6222

page 11

LABDATATM Vol.20,

No. 1, 1990, pages

12 & 14. A quarterly technical and

information publication by Underwriters

Laboratories Inc.

page 11

EVAC-U-STRAPS,

were devised by a

wheelchair user in

Atlanta, GA.

page 13

TECH SHEET,

the diagrams are

taken from one of a

series of publications

on the design requirements of the

ADA Accessibility

Guidelines (AADAG),

written and compiled by the Barrier

Free Environment,

Inc., design for people of all ages and

all abilities, P.O. Box

30634, Raleigh, NC

27622.

2 6