When You’re Disabled, Emergencies Pose An Even Greater Risk

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After the Vegas shooting, these tweets contained condolences, thoughts, and prayers for the victims and their families. Like many, I was overcome with sadness and horror, devastated that over 50 people would not be able to wake up to welcome a new day.

And then I felt something all too familiar to someone like me: an acute pang of anxiety. What would have happened, I wondered, had I been there?

Emergency situations — be they relatively minor, like fire alarms going off at a mall, or serious, like terrorist attacks — are inevitably anxiety-inducing. But at least most people can take comfort in knowing that there are existing protocols in place to keep them safe. Exits are labeled. Fire stairs are obvious. Locations of fire extinguishers are a conspicuous bright red. Emergency phones in cities are clearly marked in blue, and include easy-to-understand instructions. Emergency maps make it easy to find help.

Imagine what would happen, though, if these protocols failed you. Imagine if you were trapped in a mall surrounded by frantic masses, or seeking assistance after a shooting, and you were unable to see or hear your surroundings.

As a DeafBlind woman, I know this reality well. Like countless others with disabilities, I am often left without recourse during times when I most need assistance. It’s difficult for me to communicate with staff on a normal day; during an emergency, when sirens are blaring, throngs of people are pushing through crowds, alarms are ringing, and lights are flashing, it’s nearly impossible.


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