• Educational materials
• People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
• Autism
• People with intellectual disabilities
• Home fire safety for people with disabilities
• NFPA's Disabilities Task Force
• e-ACCESS newsletter

Educational materials

Because the majority of fire deaths occur in the home, it's important to take precautions to provide adequate fire safety for everyone. Learn more about escape planning, smoke alarms, and home fire sprinklers. Download our free safety tip sheet on fire safety for people with disabilities.

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing cannot depend on the sound of a regular smoke alarm to alert them to a fire. Learn about alarms with strobe (flashing) lights, download a comprehensive safety guide, and see our free safety tip sheet on fire safety for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

Safety in the workplace: Information on emergency planning, suggested evacuation aids, drills and training, and practicing and maintaining workplace escape plans.
English PDF (1 MB) or Word (1 MB)
Spanish PDF (2 MB) or Word (2 MB)
Spanish for Latin America PDF (2 MB) or Word (2 MB)

Safety in high-rise buildings: Information about working with building management, the local fire department, and other residents on safe evacuation practices.
English PDF (20 KB) or Word (21 KB)
Spanish PDF (233 KB)
Spanish for Latin America PDF (220 KB)

For public educators 

Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide: Includes a checklist that building services managers and people with disabilities can use to design a personalized evacuation plan.
PDF (1 MB) or Word (1.9 MB)
Planning Checklist in Word  (192 KB)

Safety information needs to be conveyed in a way that gives all children the opportunity to learn and practice skills. Keep in mind that general fire safety tips still apply to all.
English PDF (54 KB) or Word (54 KB)
Spanish PDF (61 KB) or Word (61 KB)

Our student planning guide includes information to help teachers, administrators, and parents look at issues relevant to a student’s ability to evacuate a building in an emergency.
PDF (152 KB) or Word (392 KB)

This scenario card lesson plan is designed to teach elementary school children about escape planning and practice at school.

Children with autism may be less able to help themselves than other children in a fire emergency. It is difficult to predict how a child with autism will behave in a stressful situation. Advance preparation is critical.

A developmental disability occurs when a child does not meet the developmental milestones (walking, talking, smiling, playing, learning to read, etc.) expected for his or her age. Resources for teaching people with developmental disabilities.

NFPA report: Physical Disability as a Factor in Home Fire Deaths (May 2011)

In this Section:

People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing cannot depend on the sound of a regular fire alarm. People with intellectual disabilities Teaching fire safety to people with intellectual disabilities.

Autism Advance preparation is critical for children with autism. Home fire safety for people with disabilities It’s important to take precautions to provide adequate fire safety for everyone.