Case Study #5: Housing and Residential Life

Background

Dan is a sophomore living on the fourth floor of Johnson Hall. He has paraplegia and uses a wheelchair for mobility.

Access Issue

Dan had a concern about a recent fire drill that occurred in his residence hall. He was not notified before the drill. He saw the flashing signs and heard the alarm and assumed it was an actual fire. He was distressed because during the entire drill, no one came to assist him. When he reported his concerns to dorm staff, they showed little interest.

1. Discuss potential solutions to the issue described. There can be more than one good solution.
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed solution.
3. Clarify the appropriate roles of the student, housing staff, and disabled student services staff in reaching a decision and providing accommodations if needed.
4. After you have completed your discussion, read the access solution that actually occurred in this case. It is printed on the back of this handout. Compare your proposed solutions with this solution. Discuss the conclusions listed, and add at least one more.

Source: The Student Services Conference Room, DO-IT, University of Washington. Permission is granted to reproduce this handout for educational noncommercial purposes.

Solution

Following is the solution that was actually employed in this case:

Dan called his counselor at the disabled student services office and explained the situation and his concerns. The counselor contacted the residence hall director to inquire about the procedures for a fire drill. There were no evacuation policies or procedures in place. The disabled student service counselor worked with the campus housing office, the student, and the residence hall director to solve the immediate problem but also to establish a policy that required the identification of a common area on each floor where people with disabilities should gather in case of an emergency and to establish evacuation procedures to protect the students. Campus and local police and fire departments were consulted. All of the resident assistants were informed of the final policy and procedures.

Conclusions

This case study illustrates the following:

1. Emergency and evacuation procedures for students with disabilities need to be established in residence halls and other campus buildings in consultation with local police and fire departments.
2. All housing staff should to be informed about residence hall emergency and fire evacuation procedures.
3. Students with disabilities should be informed of campus emergency and evacuation routes and procedures and make their specific needs known to housing staff.