Quiet in the Chaos: Sensory-Friendly Go Bags to Empower Students During Emergencies

Presenter(s)

Event Details

Topic:

accessibility & UDL

Format:

lecture

Subject Level:

beginner

Age Span:

infant / toddler
preschool
kindergarten - grade 6
grades 7-12
adult

Target Audience:

AT specialist
autism specialist
consultant
deaf / hard of hearing
educator
family member / caregiver

K-12 administration
occupational therapist
paraprofessional
physical therapist
special educator
speech language pathologist
teacher of the visually impaired

vision impairment specialist

Professional Development Credits

IACET CEUs:

.01 CEU

ACVREP CEs:

1 CE

Presentation Length: 1 hour

Location:

Atrium 1

Description:

Participants in this session will explore a practical model for enhancing emergency preparedness for students with multiple disabilities through the creation of sensory-friendly “go bags.” Presenter will detail the contents of these bags, including sensory tools and communication aids, and explain how these resources will empower students during emergencies and drills. The session will conclude with strategies for program implementation, sustainability, and measuring success, offering attendees concrete examples for creating similar inclusive emergency preparedness plans within their own educational environments.

Learning Outcomes:

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Select at least three distinct sensory-friendly items for emergency "go bags" that mitigate sensory overload for students with multiple disabilities during unexpected events.

• Implement two distinct strategies for actively involving students with disabilities in emergency preparedness planning to cultivate ownership and familiarity with available resources.

• Develop one measurable method for evaluating the impact of sensory-friendly emergency "go bags" on reducing anxiety and enhancing communication for students with multiple disabilities during emergency drills or actual events.