Hatboro Holds Special Needs Fire Safety Training

HATBORO, PA -- Several local groups have forged an exciting new partnership to hold their first mock “Safety Preparedness Drill,” to highlight the fact that safety in emergency situations for special needs students is a major priority.

This is being done in recognition of April being Autism Awareness Month

The event will take place Friday, April 15 at 6 p.m. at the Technology Learning Lab at 350 South York Road, Hatboro.

The Autism Cares Foundation, SI Services Technology Learning Lab and the Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro will conduct this first-time emergency drill on Friday, April 15 at 6 pm at the Technology Learning Lab at 350 South York Road in Hatboro.

Fire Marshal Erick Myers and Fire Chief Jim Anders, along with first responders will be on hand with their fire trucks to get up close and personal with special education students and their family members to practice an actual emergency fire drill.

Also in attendance will be Linda and Frank Kuepper, Co-Founders of the Autism Cares Foundation, Karen Velocci, president of SI Services and Director of Technology for the Autism Cares Foundation, as well as local students with autism and other special needs.

While schools conduct fire drills to practice the steps necessary to facilitate a rapid, coordinated and effective response during an emergency situation, this effort often falls short for the special education population which requires much more practice due to challenges students face in social responsiveness, managing anxiety (especially in a stressful situation), changes in routines, understanding of the situation and following directions.

The key to ensuring the safety of students with autism and other special needs is PRACTICE!

Since it is often difficult for schools to meet the added safety requirements for this studentPopulation, a unique program has been developed and provides the opportunity for school personnel to conduct regular emergency drills to increase the understanding and confidence of students to cope and follow directions during an emergency situation.

The Special Education Students Emergency Preparedness (SESEP) program – which provides the opportunity for school personnel to conduct regular emergency drills to increase the understanding and confidence of students to cope and follow directions during an emergency situation.

Not only will this reinforce the student’s successful responses to an emergency, but the program also allows opportunities to interact with first responders, develop videos of their experiences for social stories and the creation of essential Go Kits for safety planning.

Everyone involved believes that safety needs to be the number one priority and it needs to be given more attention!

The goal of the program is to raise awareness of the different needs of individuals with challenges and allows them the ability to practice and understand the danger of the emergency and follow steps to ensure their safety and all those around them.

Actual school district community experiences at the SI Services Technology Learning lab will incorporate iPad lessons with the Fire Safety Drill Practices.

Everyone involved is encouraging the community to come out and watch the introduction of an important new program that will help special education students stay safe.