Student Advocate Spurs Virginia Law to Protect Disabled Students in Emergencies

During middle school fire drills, Kira Tiller was routinely left behind as her classmates evacuated, leaving her anxious about her safety in a genuine emergency.

Because flashing lights can trigger seizures due to her epilepsy, Ms. Tiller’s teachers in Gainesville, Virginia, would send her to a windowless office to avoid the strobe alarms. When her family requested a formal emergency evacuation plan, school officials assured them they would address it, but no concrete measures were taken. She recalls feeling that she might literally be abandoned in a crisis.

Similar challenges have been reported by other students with disabilities. For instance, a wheelchair user in Maryland was left stranded in a stairwell during a fire, waiting for help. Another student using a cane struggled to evacuate during a shooting incident at a St. Louis high school, where police officers mistakenly pointed firearms at her.

Despite rising threats from climate disasters and school violence, only a few states require public schools to create individualized evacuation plans for students with disabilities. This is notable given that over seven million public school students nationwide have disabilities, and their numbers continue to grow.

In response, Virginia enacted legislation this year after Ms. Tiller began investigating the issue and consulting with some of the state’s approximately 180,000 students with disabilities. Her discussions included wheelchair users unable to access hiding places during active shooter situations, as well as students with autism or sensory sensitivities needing additional support during lockdowns.

“I was shocked that this critical safety concern wasn’t being addressed seriously,” she said.

A spokesperson for Prince William County Public Schools declined to comment on Ms. Tiller’s specific case but affirmed the district’s support for laws enhancing student safety. The spokesperson added that the district continually reviews and updates its safety procedures to improve emergency responses.