How Especially Safe Is Transforming Inclusive Safety Planning
- Safe and Sound Schools
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
Especially Safe, a signature program developed by Safe and Sound Schools, empowers school safety teams to teach and train in ways that ensure everybody is prepared and protected in an emergency.
The program was built to support individuals with a wide range of special needs, including developmental disabilities, trauma histories, communication challenges, medical conditions, and mobility concerns. When adopted, it can build safer, more inclusive school environments by thoughtfully planning for the unique needs of every student, staff member, and visitor.
A Personal Mission for Safer Schools
Especially Safe stems from our founder and executive director Michele Gay’s personal experience. Following the Sandy Hook School tragedy and the loss of her daughter, Josephine “Joey” Grace Gay, Michele was inspired to improve school safety nationwide, for all students.
“Joey was an extraordinary child in so many ways – as we like to say, she was ‘especially special’. Her amazing energy, beautiful smile, and kind spirit endeared her to all who knew her. She also had many ‘special needs’ as a student with autism, apraxia of speech, gross motor and visual impairments, and other developmental disorders.
Especially Safe was developed in Joey’s honor and her fingerprints are all over the program. She continues to shine bright through our efforts to promote inclusive safety preparedness that considers the needs of all student populations–from developmental disabilities to communication challenges, medical needs to mobility challenges, and more.” -Michele Gay
Through the Especially Safe program, Safe and Sound Schools teaches the need for inclusive, as well as individual, safety plans that ensure no child or staff member is left behind during emergencies. Through Especially Safe schools can better prepare to support their entire community, including those with physical, neurological, sensory, or cognitive differences, during a crisis.
Proactive Planning for Safer School Environments
Especially Safe also highlights the importance of taking a proactive approach to building a culture of safety within school communities. Safety cannot just be what is done in response to emergencies — it’s something that must be woven into the very fabric of school life.
When our team conducts Especially Safe trainings, they equip school communities with practical strategies like ongoing staff training, age and developmentally appropriate scenarios, and leveraging community partnerships to strengthen school safety plans. Safety leaders are reminded that when we plan ahead— together — we foster trust, build confidence, and ensure that every member of the school community feels seen, supported, and safe.
This is transformational for schools, as well as the entire community. It affirms that safety planning must reflect the individual needs of every student, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration. To be successful, schools must involve families, therapists, educators, and multi-disciplinary school safety teams in the planning process. This collaboration helps to build environments where every student feels secure, valued, and part of the school community.
The Basics of Especially Safe Training
Thoughtful planning and meaningful collaboration are foundational to Especially Safe. To support and maximize these efforts, here are a few things schools must have in place to better support every member of their community:
The Power of Multidisciplinary Teams
A strong safety plan begins with a team approach. When mental health professionals, administrators, educators, and families come together, they bring a range of perspectives that help build more inclusive, responsive strategies. Inclusive safety starts with inclusive voices.
Developmentally Appropriate Safety Practices
Safety education isn’t one-size-fits-all. It must grow and adapt with each student’s age, stage, and ability. From foundational safety steps for young learners to more detailed planning for older students, tailoring the approach ensures everyone understands and feels empowered to act.
The Value of Individual Safety Plans (ISPs)
ISPs are a powerful way to meet students where they are. Whether addressing sensory sensitivities, mobility needs, or medical conditions, these personalized plans ensure that no one is left out of the safety conversation. ISPs are not just plans — they’re pathways to equity and confidence in crisis.
You Asked, We Answered!
The Especially Safe Planning and Preparation Guide now features a fillable PDF for the Individual Safety Plan (ISP). No more printing or handwriting — it's free, easy to use, and ready for your computer!
Download the updated guide today!
The Real-World Impact of Especially Safe
SRO Brian Frazier, a proud advocate for Especially Safe, worked with his school to ensure Maddie’s needs were accounted for in an emergency. When Maddie moved to a new classroom at the beginning of fifth grade, Officer Frazier and the school’s safety team realized she no longer had a usable path from her classroom to the emergency evacuation location. They worked together to put in a new sidewalk, named Maddie’s Way, that would get Maddie where she needed to go safely and quickly.
This is just one example of Especially Safe has impacted schools and students nationwide. You can learn more about the program here.
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