The wheelchair-bound man who was locked in the ATC last week during a fire drill is indicative of the poor treatment received by Islanders with disabilities. If it had been a real fire, his life would have been at serious risk. Since it was only a drill, he was exposed to high stress for no reason.
Who plannned a fire drill during a job fair? What was that person thinking?
As an invitee to the building, Mr. MacPhee becomes the responsibility for the building’s owners and tenants. He is not on his own to protect himself in the event of a fire. There should be policies and people in place to deal with the disabled in the event of a fire.
However, it is not uncommon for those living with disabilities to be ignored. Look at 9/11 – heroic behavior save many disabled people not planning.
If fire inspector Randy MacDonald actually said “it is up to individuals — disabled or not — to have an escape plan.” he is ignorant of the law. He is also grossly insensitive to Islanders living with disabilities.
How can an invitee to the building prepare or execute an escape plan? By forcing the disabled to save themselves, MacDonald is perpetuating the age old prejudice about the disabled – let them look after themselves.
If, as MacDonald says, “the National Fire Protection Association does recommend that all buildings have evacuation plans in place for people with disabilities.” – why doesn’t PEI and Charlottetown have such a law? Do we need a death to make this law essential?
Why doesn’t the law on PEI prohibit public meetings without adequate fire protection? There is no way a person in a wheelchair could have exited the Atlantic Superstore Festival of Lights in an emergency. This situation was reported 4 years ago yet nothing appears to be done. Why?
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