OLATHE, Kan. -- Emergencies can be overwhelming for anyone, but for those who have disabilities, it can be especially stressful.
That’s why Olathe Police and Fire departments worked together to hold a special safety class on Sunday.
First responders geared up in front of a group of individuals with disabilities and their families.
Firefighters and Police officers demonstrated how they approach certain situations and talked about how they can help in certain emergencies.
“What we realized is that often in times of emergency they panic of they get concerned. So if there’s a fire, they might be hiding in a closet or under a bed,” said Mark Trivilino, a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church which has two group homes for people who have disabilities.
The goal of the class was to establish a level of comfort with what to expect when confronted by a first responder.
“Especially if you’ve got a developmental disability, a firefighter showing up in full gear with the mask and tanks and everything… that can be a little frightening,” said Mark Gash, Chair of the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board for Olathe.
Olathe has a large population of people with disabilities at nearly 20%.
Organizers say this class is one of many efforts to keep that population safe.
The police department’s co-responder program, which sends a mental health professional to accompany officers on mental health calls, has also been very successful.
“We kind of see this as an extension of that. Getting outreach to the disabled community and getting them the information that they need,” said Gash.
This is the first time the class has been offered and more than 50 people registered to attend. Those who work with disabled individuals say this kind of education will likely save lives.
