Does a college who places a student with a physical disability in a room on the first floor need to do anything else to ensure that that student will be as safe as any other student residing in that dorm?  What if there is an emergency? Should someone be legally responsible to ensure the safety of those with a disability, or is it up to the person to do so herself?

When students apply for residential housing on campus, they are usually placed in a freshman dorm with other freshmen. Students with physical disabilities, especially those who require the use of walker or wheelchairs, are often placed “where ever they will fit”- traditionally on the first floor of a dorm with an elevator. Although this may this may meet most of their immediate needs; what happens when there is an emergency and there is no way for them to assist themselves?

My friend “J” was placed on the first floor of a freshmen dorm; but she said she was petrified to go anywhere for weeks. She has always been a little reserved, but I did not think it was to that extent. When I asked her what stopped her, she said she hardly knew anyone beyond saying hello and she did not want to visit people on other floors in case there was a fire drill. She would not be able to use the elevator, and would not be able to get out of the building.

She said it was weeks until she finally got up the nerve to go visit a friend on the third floor. She had been there for about an hour, when sure enough, the fire alarm went on and everyone but she and her friend started to leave.

In high school, there had been specific evacuation plans in place, with specified, trained people reporting to evacuation chairs at the top of each stairwell to facilitate her evacuation. In a real emergency, specific staff members stated that they would simply carry her down the stairs and out of the building if necessary.  But in her dormitory, no such plan had been made.

She and her friend (both very new to the school) began calling the numbers for their Resident Assistant’s and Resident Director. Because the building was being evacuated, it was very difficult to get someone to answer their phones. She said finally, a graduate assistant answered and said simply, “It’s just a drill, you can stay there.”  That soon became the running joke between J and her friend- “In case of emergency – stay there!”

I asked her if any further or additional plans or arrangements had ever been made, and she said that they had not.  She now feels comfortable enough and has enough friends to receive assistance from them to get out of a building – again, she happens to be small and could easily be carried- but the problem of ‘visiting’ is not one that had ever crossed my mind until she told her story.

I challenge all residents’ life programs on all college campuses to address this simple issue and develop specific plans for these few students before a tragedy forces their hand.

[Ed. note: this five-part series is being released one blog at a time over several weeks. See the previous posts

• Introduction: Acclimating to College Life in a Wheelchair
• Part One: Transitioning from an IEP in High School to Receiving Disability-Related Services in College
  
• Part Two: Choosing a College Based on Your Disability Based Needs
• Part Four: Personal Care Assistants – How to Get What You Need
• Part Five: Going Right to the Top: Advocating for Your Needs by Eliminating the Middle Man

at ChildRC.com. ]