ABSTRACT PDF Version
Project A. Fire Safety Solutions for People with Disabilities - This project will develop accessible fire safety messages and materials for the specialized needs of individuals with disabilities. The project includes developing a model smoke alarm distribution and installation program for people with disabilities, and developing an educational process to teach adults with a cognitive disability home exit knowledge and skills.

This project targets people with who are blind or have low vision, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with mobility impairments, and people with mental retardation or other cognitive disabilities. These high-risk groups with one or more disabilities may not be able to take life saving action in a timely manner in the event of a fire. There is a need to improve the fire and life safety of this population. The 2000 US Census reports that 60% of people over 65 years of age report having at least one disability.

Two symposiums, Solutions 2000 and Beyond Solutions 2000, began to bring the fire and life safety needs of persons with disabilities into focus. In 2002, the U.S. Fire Administration funded a grant to Oklahoma State University, Fire Protection Publications and Oklahoma ABLE Tech for the purpose of conducting a North American review/literature search of fire and life safety messages, programs, materials, and devices for persons with disabilities that would establish a benchmark regarding the current body of knowledge available on this at risk population. Significant findings from this literature search include: 1) very little published information is available for the general public; 2) there is no organized central location for information; 3) Data Collection Systems do not report individuals with disabilities involved in fires; 4) individuals with disabilities need to be aware of fire risks and take a proactive role in providing personal safety; 5) emergency evacuation technology exists but no national standards are available; 6) few fire safety messages exist that are specific to those with disabilities; 7) there is little to no fire safety training specific to those with disabilities; and 8) fire safety legislation needs to consider persons with disabilities.

This project utilizes the findings of the 2002 grant as the basis to propose development of fire safety messages, materials and smoke alarm distribution and installation for people with disabilities.

This project focuses on developing fire safety messages and materials for home exit plans and smoke alarms for people with disabilities. Few fire safety messages exist that are specific to those with disabilities. There is little to no fire safety training specific to people with disabilities. This project will develop fire safety messages and materials specific to people with disabilities. These messages and materials will focus on, but may not be limited to, smoke alarm installation and home fire exit planning and practice.

There are model fire safety programs that distribute and install smoke alarms. None of these programs target the unique requirements of smoke alarms and home exits for people with disabilities. Smoke alarms and home exits plans pose specific challenges for persons with disabilities. Smoke alarms for persons with disabilities involve correct installation of devices with specific assistive technology features that accommodate their disability type. This project proposes to develop a model program for smoke alarm distribution and installation for this high risk population.

ABLE Tech, Oklahoma's Assistive Technology Project, provides statewide services to persons with all disabilities across the lifespan. This places ABLE Tech in a unique position to conduct a home smoke alarm distribution program in Oklahoma for individuals who are identified in this high fire risk population. This project will serve as the basis for the model program. All smoke alarms will accommodate the unique needs of the user and will be installed by the local fire department or other qualified fire safety partner in accordance with the smoke alarm manufacturer recommendations and applicable local codes or ordinances. For example, a deaf person will have a smoke alarm installed that includes a visual signal such as a strobe light. The cost of these devices (more than $100) is far higher than common household smoke alarms. Projects such as this that provide the alarms at no cost to the recipient have the best opportunity to impact the fire problem for this high risk audience.

Appropriate fire safety materials developed through this project will be distributed to each program participant. A home fire safety walkthrough will be offered to all program participants to provide greater assurance of safe egress in the event of a fire. All participants receiving a smoke alarm will be asked to complete a consumer satisfaction survey about 6 months after installation. This will include a reminder to test the smoke alarm to insure that it is operational.

Oklahoma's population is 3,460,097. According to the U.S. Census Bureau of 2000, 1,128,257 Oklahomans reported having a disability. Of that total, 16% have some form of sensory disability, 30% have a physical disability and 15% have a mental disability including developmental delays. This project will target providing 500 household smoke alarms appropriate for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and 500 household smoke alarms appropriate for other persons with disabilities.

Oklahoma ABLE Tech will also develop fire safety messages and materials for persons with hearing, vision and mobility disabilities. The development of these materials will incorporate the following methodology: 1) develop first draft of materials, 2) pre/post test and pilot materials with target audience; 3) develop second draft of materials; 4) evaluate materials with advisory panel 5) finalize materials. One way these materials will be made available is through a Fire Safety Solutions for People with Disabilities accessible web site. It is proposed that this web site be developed as part of this project. ABLE Tech has extensive experience in developing accessible web sites and will apply this knowledge and skill to this project.

People with cognitive disabilities reflect a range of unique abilities and needs across the lifespan. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau reports 14.3 million people over the age of 15 with a mental disability. Within this group are people with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, acquired brain injuries, and diseases of aging such as Alzheimer's. Disabilities that affect a person's awareness, memory, concentration, perception, organizational skills, problem-solving abilities and ability to learn, process information, communicate, and make decisions are cognitive. People with cognitive disabilities may need modified content or alternate formats for fire safety information. There is a broad range of individual abilities and making home fire safety information accessible and appropriate for this target audience is a significant task. This project proposes to develop home fire safety messages and materials for one segment of this high-risk population.

Seeds Educational Services, Inc. is a not for profit organization that has broad experience in developing personal safety curriculum and delivering training and education for people with cognitive disabilities. Their participation in the project will develop, pilot test, and measure the effectives of a fire safety curriculum for people with diverse cognitive disabilities. The curriculum will focus on smoke alarms and home exit plans and will be delivered to participants with cognitive abilities that range from mild to severe mental retardation and that live in a variety of living situations. Smoke alarms will be installed in the homes of these participants. The curriculum will be modified as needed after the pilot delivery and a second pilot including smoke alarm installation will be conducted and evaluated with additional participants. The overall curriculum effectiveness will then be evaluated.

The faculty of the School of FPST will develop a tool to assist fire department personnel or other life safety educators in conducting fire safety home inspection/fire safety walkthrough materials specifically designed for special considerations necessary for fire safety for people with disabilities. This tool will be developed with the project partners and experienced fire department inspectors. This tool will be integrated into the smoke alarm installation project and model program design.

Project A. Plan Develop Fire Safety Messages and Materials for People with Disabilities Develop a Fire Safety Educational Process for People with Cognitive Disabilities Distribute and Install Smoke Alarms for People in Oklahoma with Disabilities as a pilot to develop a model program Develop Fire Safety Home Inspection/Fire Safety Walkthrough Materials with Special Considerations for People with Disabilities Develop Fire Safety Solutions for People with Disabilities Accessible Web Site

Project A. Collaborators Oklahoma ABLE Tech (The Oklahoma Assistive Technology Program) OSU Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology faculty Seeds Educational Services, Inc NEPA Center for High Risk Outreach Advisory Panel OSU Project Director Nancy Trench

Project A. Impact Education and household smoke alarms are proven methods to reduce the loss from fire. Fire safety materials and a model smoke alarm installation program that meet the specific need of persons with disabilities will be developed. These methods and materials will be made available through an accessible web site. The methods and materials developed through this project will have long-term benefits for people with disabilities by making accurate, accessible, compelling, and sensitive fire safety materials available.