Teacher Tuesday: Safety Classes

Will my child be safe on her own?

Will my child recognize when a situation is dangerous?

Does my child know how to respond if a situation becomes unsafe?

All parents have these thoughts, whether their child has an intellectual disability or not, but parents of a child with an intellectual disability have an additional concern: 

Will my child be able to learn to be safe, to recognize a dangerous situation, to respond appropriately?

At Shepherds College, our goal is Appropriate Independence™ for every student that goes through our program. The students’ safety in the classroom as they’re learning to be independent, and safety following their graduation from our program, is of utmost concern. Teachers cover topics like weather safety, kitchen safety, medical safety, and safety while using tools during home maintenance projects.

Teaching methods vary too, from lecture and pictures to demonstrations and role play, so each student is offered the most effective opportunity to absorb the material in the way he or she learns best.

Last week in Daily Living Skills, the first year students learned about fire safety, an important issue to cover, especially as the students will be cooking with less supervision in the homes and apartments in the coming years. 

Firefighter Dave, a retired Oak Creek firefighter (and Kim Pechous’ dad!) came in to talk with the students and give them some tips on how to be safe when cooking. 

They also practiced a fire escape plan, and Firefighter Dave showed them a fun and easy way to remember what to do in case of a fire - the fire safety aerobics! 

Fire Safety Aerobics

1. Climb down the ladder to get out of a two-story building  

2. Test your detector once a month

3. Roll out of bed

4. Crawl to your door quickly

5. Feel the door with the back of your hand (low, middle, high)

6. Open the door slowly

7. Crawl down the hall

8. Know two ways out

9. Run to neighbor’s house

10. Call 911

11. Go to the meeting place

Megan and Sarah even got the chance to dress up like firefighters!

This week, the students discussed emergencies and non-emergencies, and when to make 911 calls. Our student Alex was able to demonstrate how to call for help in an emergency, but warned the rest of the class, "never call 911 as a prank, a joke, or for a cold, cough or sick pet."

There's a saying that goes, "Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury." At Shepherds College, we stress the former. We pray our students take their safety classes with them wherever they go.


Shepherds College - Guiding Your Transition to Appropriate Independence. Please visit us at www.shepherdscollege.edu.