Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
6
↓
Active shooter training for the visually impaired (self.Blind)
submitted by BaginaJon
Hey y'all,
I'm teacher of the visually impaired and one of the schools I work at is doing active shooter training and procedures that we have to teach out students (high school). I have a blind student there and everyone is looking to me for answers on this.
They're teaching us the Run, Hide, Fight approach, which from everything I've read is the best way to survive these situations. How can I modify this for a blind student. Does he just always have a hiding spot in the classroom? How can a student help him if they're also fleeing for their life? Teachers, too. It's a scary situation.
What should I do? Im thinking that there's not much we can do to modify Run, Hide, Fight but I'm hoping someone out there has put more thought into it.
Thanks!
I'm teacher of the visually impaired and one of the schools I work at is doing active shooter training and procedures that we have to teach out students (high school). I have a blind student there and everyone is looking to me for answers on this.
They're teaching us the Run, Hide, Fight approach, which from everything I've read is the best way to survive these situations. How can I modify this for a blind student. Does he just always have a hiding spot in the classroom? How can a student help him if they're also fleeing for their life? Teachers, too. It's a scary situation.
What should I do? Im thinking that there's not much we can do to modify Run, Hide, Fight but I'm hoping someone out there has put more thought into it.
Thanks!
jrs12 11 points 4y ago
What a difficult thing to talk about. I always remind staff that I want my students to be as independent as possible, but in the case of an actual emergency... if you need to grab and drag.... then grab and drag. It seems like this goes against your school plan though. Maybe you can do a modified run, where instead of someone being assigned to come help your student, your student knows to grab whatever he can grab of a passing person and run with them? It's not appropriate or guaranteed, but if it's every man for himself, your student is protecting himself. I would then discuss with your student good hiding spots and where windows are that he might not be aware of so that he can be confident his spot is safe. Finally, have you read safe without sight? Self defense for the blind.
ravenshadow2013 3 points 4y ago
I train blind and VI people in the work place, one of the things we work on is having a plan in case of fire/event. My suggestion is either to have your student hide and shelter in place or work with them on a route that they can take without assistance from somebody else, treat all egress situations as a fire drill. It really is a difficult situation and there are no easy answers
gracefulltree 2 points 4y ago
As someone who’s blind but has some usable vision, I’d run & find a place to hide. Then again, I can see pretty well for a blind person, and I have no idea what my fully-blind friends would do.
Drunken_Idaho 2 points 4y ago
Its everyone for themselves in run, hide fight. Don't teach your student to wait around for someone. If the shooter is far enough that the class is running, the blind student should run too. If its hide, just hide with everyone else.
The student will know where things are assuming they have good o and m.
The student will know where things are assuming they have good o and m.
multi-instrumental 2 points 4y ago
Have someone help him out? That's all I can think of.
Someone who is blind is in quite a bit of trouble in that situation if there aren't good Samaritans to help out.
How often are you doing these drills? The only thing we did in high school was hide in the corner and make it look like no one was in the classroom. Now that I think about it it doesn't like the best of ideas.
Someone who is blind is in quite a bit of trouble in that situation if there aren't good Samaritans to help out.
How often are you doing these drills? The only thing we did in high school was hide in the corner and make it look like no one was in the classroom. Now that I think about it it doesn't like the best of ideas.
BaginaJon [OP] 4 points 4y ago
Normally, of course I would suggest someone help him, but the in "run" situation, to avoid casualties, it's supposed to be every man for himself. Even teachers. Everybody is supposed to scatter and run in the opposite direction of the sound of gun shots. Im not sure what the self contained special Ed classes do in this situation. They probably just lock doors and barricade themselves? Teachers are only instructed to lock doors and barricade/hide if the shooter is within sight or too close by to flee safely.
It's a terrible situation because my student can be anywhere on campus during a situation like this and will likely not know where to go without help or even where to hide safely if not in a familiar environment.
I work for a state school for the blind and they have no agency wide policy for this, which I think is insane. I'm starting to believe that's there's just no good answer for this, but I'd still like my student to be somewhat prepared.
It's a terrible situation because my student can be anywhere on campus during a situation like this and will likely not know where to go without help or even where to hide safely if not in a familiar environment.
I work for a state school for the blind and they have no agency wide policy for this, which I think is insane. I'm starting to believe that's there's just no good answer for this, but I'd still like my student to be somewhat prepared.
ilivetofly 3 points 4y ago
It would have to be a judgement call on behalf of the teacher. If the shooter seems to be far enough away that the students (considering their disabilities) can flee safely then they should do so. If not they shouldn't.
If many students are special needs or disabled in any way they need to be considered. They probably can't 'deal' with a dangerous situation appropriatly like a similar aged student could. They may not be able to wander alone in severe cases and you can't expect such a student to flee alone.
If a good chunk of the class in unable to scatter and flee it should definitly be a hide in place plan and the schedules of the classes that are set to hide in place should be known and given to emergancy responders. Kinda like if a class doesn't make it out in a fire, firefighters are told where that class was.
Police should in a general situation try and prioritise the escape of these set classes or ensure the area is safe near them given they cannot flee until they can zero in on the perpetrators location.
The emergancy plans for disabled and special needs students needs more care. Fuck I remember a friend of mine in a wheelchair during a fire drill everyone knew was a drill got made to walk down the stairs and missed school for at least a week because of it. That isn't a fucking plan, watching her hobble down the stairs after eveyone else has pushed their way down basically without help. She could do it but it wasn't a good fucking idea.
[Edit] adding I think with all the plans for classroom barricading I think an attack needs to also be planned for say when school is letting out at lunch or the end of the day. Attackers now know how hiding and barracading works when they have a labyrinth of rooms to hide in. Plans need to be made for all reasonable emergancies for all times of the school day for all students.
If many students are special needs or disabled in any way they need to be considered. They probably can't 'deal' with a dangerous situation appropriatly like a similar aged student could. They may not be able to wander alone in severe cases and you can't expect such a student to flee alone.
If a good chunk of the class in unable to scatter and flee it should definitly be a hide in place plan and the schedules of the classes that are set to hide in place should be known and given to emergancy responders. Kinda like if a class doesn't make it out in a fire, firefighters are told where that class was.
Police should in a general situation try and prioritise the escape of these set classes or ensure the area is safe near them given they cannot flee until they can zero in on the perpetrators location.
The emergancy plans for disabled and special needs students needs more care. Fuck I remember a friend of mine in a wheelchair during a fire drill everyone knew was a drill got made to walk down the stairs and missed school for at least a week because of it. That isn't a fucking plan, watching her hobble down the stairs after eveyone else has pushed their way down basically without help. She could do it but it wasn't a good fucking idea.
[Edit] adding I think with all the plans for classroom barricading I think an attack needs to also be planned for say when school is letting out at lunch or the end of the day. Attackers now know how hiding and barracading works when they have a labyrinth of rooms to hide in. Plans need to be made for all reasonable emergancies for all times of the school day for all students.
Tuxedo-T-Shirt 1 points 4y ago
You should have a procedure to reach a space that can be considered safe, or to barricade the door to the room they're in. Active shooters are not determined- they're looking for the highest body count in the shortest amount of time. A locked or barricaded door presents more of a challenge than the typical shooter is willing to overcome. If you can rehearse a procedure to effectively barricade the door to the room they're in, it would be an excellent drill to do that the blind and/or VI might be able to perform.
ENTJ351 1 points 4y ago
HOw social is this person? Find a great buddy that will help out with them. I know a few friends who would do anything for me. Probably help me to safety. If you die I will die first type of mentality. I love you like myself! Make a good friend and keep them, otherwise your suggestion is fine.
AmAsabat 1 points 4y ago
Teacher and blind guy here. For my room we have an area, I am told, is not visible from any of the four doors. The plan for me is to send the class to the two doors furthest away from active shooter sound and then hide in my space with any student who is unable to evacuate. We also have ballistic pads in each room to shelter behind if needed.
I suggest for each room student uses find the safe spot and teach them where it is.
If it happens when I’m not in class and out and about I release my dogs ( I have an assistance dog and a retried assistance dog ) and woe betide anyone who tries to harm me. This approach was tested when I was mugged, He ended up needing 15 stitches as both my dogs are GSDs and fiercely protective.
I suggest for each room student uses find the safe spot and teach them where it is.
If it happens when I’m not in class and out and about I release my dogs ( I have an assistance dog and a retried assistance dog ) and woe betide anyone who tries to harm me. This approach was tested when I was mugged, He ended up needing 15 stitches as both my dogs are GSDs and fiercely protective.
Laser_Lens_4 1 points 4y ago
Might as well add my two cents here. I've memorized all of the relevant floor plans and emergency routes in my workplace. Most of the people there I don't know so I would likely have to strike out on my own. I've figured out a couple of rooms I can hide in.
The Navy does regular active shooter trainings with presentations and individual trainings as well as live exercises. It might be something to consider doing if you haven't already.
The Navy does regular active shooter trainings with presentations and individual trainings as well as live exercises. It might be something to consider doing if you haven't already.
Jacyx310 1 points 4y ago
At the School for the Blind I work at we do shelter in place. If there is an active shooter on the premises, staff and students are trained on getting to a secured place and locking themselves inside and taking cover until the coast is clear. We won't know until we receive information over the intercom.
jr2thdoc 0 points 4y ago
Student should have access to fully loaded 300 feet per second paintball gun set to full auto. When he hears something, shoot! Friendly would understand, shooter would likely run off looking for easier target.
Jacyx310 3 points 4y ago
Not a police officer.
jr2thdoc 1 points 4y ago
Doesn't need to be, only needs something to discourage shooter.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.