The short answer
A usable evacuation message for someone with a cognitive disability has three parts: a short active-voice command in plain words, actions in a fixed numbered sequence, and standardized pictograms that match the words. Keep each sentence short, name the exact exit, and always test drafts with people who have intellectual disabilities before you post or print anything.
Key takeaways
- Panic and stress lower comprehension for everyone, so plain language is an accessibility requirement, not a style preference.
- Structure every message as: what is happening, where to go, what to do, using short active commands such as “Leave now.”
- Give actions as a short numbered sequence (3–5 steps) so a person under stress is not left choosing between options.
- ISO 7010 pictograms such as the running man help wayfinding but must be paired with matching words and arrows, never used alone.
- Test wording and layout with people who have intellectual disabilities and in live drills; formal checklists alone do not prove comprehension.
Why clarity is an accessibility requirement
In an emergency, comprehension narrows. Stress, noise, crowds and time pressure create a “situational disability”: even everyday wording may not translate into action. For people with intellectual disabilities, dementia or neurodivergence this difficulty is permanent, and bureaucratic phrasing can stop them from moving at all.
Well-known evacuation guidance for people with disabilities identifies four kinds of information occupants need: notification that something is happening, way finding along the route, knowing how to use that route, and assistance when required. Cognitive accessibility mainly affects the first three: a person must understand what is happening, where the exit is, and how to get there.
- Every instruction should answer four questions: what happened, where to go, how to go, and who helps if assistance is needed.
- Simple language helps everyone, but it is critical for people who cannot process long or abstract wording quickly.
Plain language: short commands in active voice
The core rule is one sentence, one idea. Instead of “Occupants are advised to evacuate the premises without delay in accordance with the approved plan,” write “Leave now. Go to exit 2.” Active voice and direct address (“you”) remove the decoding work, and short sentences survive the rush. Keep each sentence to roughly 8–12 words and cut acronyms and technical terms.
Major public-health bodies explicitly build plain-language principles into crisis communication: short sentences, active voice, everyday words, minimal jargon. The same ideas underpin the European easy-to-read rules, which also call for explaining difficult words, larger text, and pictures that support the words.
- Avoid: “It is recommended that occupants proceed to the designated assembly point.”
- Better: “Leave the building. Go to the parking lot exit.”
- Name the exit so it matches the sign and the floor plan.
Sequence: tell people what to do, in order
A person under stress follows a short list far better than a paragraph. Break evacuation into three to five steps and give them strictly in order: stop what you are doing; take only what you need if it is safe; follow the marked route; step outside; gather at the assembly point. Each step is a separate short command that begins with a verb.
The sequence must not contradict the signs and the escape plan. If the displayed plan, designed to ISO 23601, shows a “you are here” marker and a primary route, the written instruction should name that same path and exit. Conflicting signals leave a person frozen between them.
- Give at most one action per sentence.
- Always attach a place to the verb: “Go to the stairwell,” not just “Go.”
- State prohibitions separately and directly: “Do not use the lift.”
Icons: pictograms that carry the words
The international standard ISO 7010 defines safety signs, including the running-man exit symbol. These pictograms are used worldwide and in many countries are permitted or preferred on exit signs because they work for people who cannot read the local language, including many visitors.
A pictogram alone is rarely enough for a person with a cognitive disability: the symbol still has to be read and linked to an action. Best practice pairs the pictogram with the word (“Exit”), a directional arrow and, where practical, distance. An escape plan drawn to ISO 23601 should include a clear legend of what each icon means, where the viewer is, and where extinguishers and alarm points sit.
- Add a short written caption to every important pictogram sign.
- Mark “you are here” and the primary route clearly on the escape plan.
- Keep symbols consistent with one standard so colours and shapes do not conflict.
Easy Read, voice, and delivery channels
Offer information in several formats: large print, an easy-to-read version with pictures and one action per line, a spoken announcement using the same short phrases, and text that screen readers can parse. The written and spoken messages must agree in meaning; otherwise a person hears one thing and reads another.
The decisive rule of easy-to-read is that the text must be read and approved by people with intellectual disabilities themselves, not only by fire-safety specialists. Real-user review beats any formal checklist. Live evacuation drills are the best test that a message produces action, not merely that it looks correct.
- Deliver the message over at least two channels (voice, text, display).
- Check contrast, font size and matte surfaces on signs and plans.
- Run drills that assess whether people understood the instruction, not just how fast they left.
Limits: codes and jurisdiction
Requirements for signs, escape plans and notification systems come from national and local codes, and they vary by jurisdiction. This article offers general communication guidance, not professional fire-safety, engineering or legal advice. What is mandatory depends on the building type, its use and local rules, so confirm details with the person responsible for the premises and with current standards.
The international standards ISO 7010 and ISO 23601 are useful reference points, but local codes may prescribe different symbols, wording or placement. Verify the current versions of both the national rules and the ISO references before reproducing any template.
- Confirm national standards and code editions before mass-producing signage.
- Liaise with the responsible person or fire-safety officer when in doubt.
- Use one consistent set of emergency numbers on all materials.
Put it into practice
Audit checklist: is your evacuation message cognitively accessible?
Work through these points for each real alert script, escape plan and set of signs. A “no” on any item means the material needs rework before the moment it is actually needed.
- The message opens with an active command verb (“Leave”), not a passive recommendation.
- Each sentence holds one idea and runs under about 10–12 words.
- A specific exit or route is named, matching the plan and the signs.
- Actions appear as a short numbered sequence of 3–5 steps.
- Prohibitions are separate and direct (“Do not use the lift”).
- Every important pictogram carries a written caption.
- The escape plan marks “you are here” and the primary route.
- The message is delivered over at least two channels: voice and text/display.
- Font is large, contrast is high, and surfaces are matte.
- People with intellectual disabilities read and approved the wording and layout.
- Materials are checked against national codes and current ISO 7010/23601 editions.
- Comprehension of the instruction was tested in a live drill within the past year.
Questions people ask
What phrases work best when alerting people with cognitive disabilities to a fire?
Short active commands with one idea per sentence work best: “Leave now,” “Go to the main exit,” “Do not use the lift,” “Gather outside by the tree.” Avoid passive constructions such as “you are advised to evacuate” and unexplained acronyms. Always attach a place to the verb, and give actions as a numbered list of three to five steps so a person under stress does not have to choose between options.
Why are pictograms not enough, and how should they be combined with text?
A pictogram conveys only a general idea and must be linked by the reader to a specific step and direction. ISO 7010 standardizes exit and safety symbols such as the running man, but each important symbol should be paired with a short caption (“Exit”), a directional arrow and, where possible, distance. The symbol and text must also agree with the escape plan and the spoken announcement, or the person receives conflicting signals.
What is easy-to-read and why does it matter for evacuation?
Easy-to-read is a way of formatting information so that people with intellectual disabilities can understand it: simple words, short sentences, one idea per line, larger text, pictures, and explanations of difficult terms. According to Inclusion Europe, the most important rule is that people with intellectual disabilities themselves read and approve the text. For evacuation this means instructions are validated by real users rather than by safety specialists alone.
What sequence of actions should a person be given during evacuation?
Give strictly sequential steps with one action per command: 1) stop what you are doing; 2) take only essential items if it is safe; 3) follow the marked route; 4) step out through the designated exit; 5) gather at the assembly point and wait. A step number and a leading verb help a stressed person avoid skipping ahead or freezing. The route in the text must match the escape plan and signage.
Where can I find requirements for escape plans and safety signs?
International reference points are ISO 7010, which defines graphical safety signs including the exit symbol, and ISO 23601, which sets design principles for displayed escape and evacuation plans. Binding requirements come from national and local codes that vary by jurisdiction, so confirm current editions where the building is located and consult the responsible fire-safety person. Never treat a template as universally compliant.
Is a well-written message enough, or is training necessary?
A well-written message is not enough; comprehension is only proven through practice. Live evacuation drills show whether a person understood the command, found the route and reached the assembly point. During a drill, evaluate not just exit time but whether people acted on the instruction. If people with cognitive disabilities do not take part in drills and review materials, the message remains an untested hypothesis.
Sources and further reading
Sources were checked when this page was generated. Confirm changing dates, rules and prices with the original publisher.
- Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Easy-to-readInclusion Europe
- Graphical Symbol Exit Signs: A Smarter Way to Lead the Way Out?International Code Council, Building Safety Journal
- Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with DisabilitiesSpinal Cord Injury BC (NFPA guide)
- DIN ISO 23601:2010-12 - Safety identification - Escape and evacuation plan signsDIN Media
- Что бы это значило? Повторяем правила безопасности с МЧССенненский районный исполнительный комитет