Our last article explored the need for improved plans to mitigate the impact of large-scale emergencies on education. The Ministry of Education should develop a large-scale emergency response plan to ensure access to education for students with disabilities during such emergencies. Likewise, the Ministry, in partnership with other government departments, should help school boards revise their existing emergency response plans. As a result, these government ministries should create a guideline for school board accessible large-scale emergency response plans.
School Board Accessible Large-scale Emergency Response Plans
Like the Ministry’s plan, school board plans should list risks or hazards, and identify solutions allowing full participation. These plans should also coordinate responsibilities to ensure that students receive all the services they need in emergency situations. Furthermore, school boards should develop protocols to ensure that any other emergency plans they create take accessibility into account. Moreover, school boards across the province should communicate about the contents of their plans, to ensure that all boards provide the same level of support. In addition, school boards should have processes to assess how prepared they are for a future emergency. These processes may include:
- Review of procedures during past emergencies, to learn from them
- Training exercises for emergency preparedness
Furthermore, school boards should consult many stakeholders as they develop their plans, including:
- Local healthcare providers
- Special Education Advisory Committees (SEAC)
- School and school board accessibility committees
- Students with disabilities
The Ministry’s guideline to create these school board plans should account for differences between the needs of elementary and high schools.
In our next article, we will explore independent reviews for emergency response. These reviews can be important resources for school boards creating emergency response plans.