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By Jim Frazier, Public Policy Director, The Arc / UCP California Collaboration
Believe it or not, there is no state requirement for K-12 schools to create and maintain a documented plan in emergency situations for students with disabilities, despite an overwhelming concern by parents of students with disabilities. As captured in a recent survey by The Arc & UCP California Collaboration, parents are extremely concerned about the safety of their child with a disability. Still, only 8% of the respondents have been provided documents about how their child with a disability would be accommodated in a school emergency, evacuation, or disaster.
Having an assessment of each child’s needs in the event of an emergency or disaster is common sense, and the plan should be known by teachers, and school administration and made readily accessible to first responders. This is why The Arc & UCP California Collaboration strongly supports SB 323 by Senator Portantino (D – Pasadena/Foothills), which proposes to require an emergency plan for students with disabilities.
Unfortunately, the bill encountered opposition and was amended, so schools are required to make only minimal changes to existing emergency plans. The bill will be heard by Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi in the Assembly Education Committee when the legislature reconvenes, and we are urging the committee to amend the bill again to create stronger requirements and protections for our students with disabilities.
You can support this effort by clicking HERE to contact Assemblyman Muratsuchi by phone or an online form, and stating why you believe SB 323 should include more robust protections for students with disabilities and that California schools should be required to create a personalized emergency plan for those students. Let’s make this happen!