A 16-year-old student from Hyde High School is making waves at Parliament after a frightening incident during a school emergency highlighted a critical gap in safety provisions for disabled pupils across the UK.
Lucas Vezza-O’Brien, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, was told to wait in a designated ‘safe area’ on the first floor of his school during an electrical fire last November. Whilst his classmates and teachers evacuated the building, Lucas remained upstairs – not because of the severity of the fire, but because the school lacked the basic equipment needed to help him escape.
Though the fire was quickly brought under control and nobody was injured, the experience left Lucas shaken – and determined to ensure no other student would face the same situation.
From Victim to Campaigner
Rather than accept this as an unfortunate one-off, Lucas launched the #NoStudentLeftBehind campaign, demanding that all UK schools and colleges be legally required to have evacuation chairs and trained staff capable of using them.
His petition to Parliament has been gaining significant traction, aiming to reach 10,000 signatures – the threshold that triggers an official government response on the matter.
“This isn’t just about what happened to me,” Lucas explained. “It’s about making sure every disabled student in every school knows they won’t be abandoned in an emergency. We deserve the same safety as everyone else.”
Industry Support Drives Change
Lucas’s campaign has attracted support from safety equipment specialists, including Evacusafe UK, part of The Emergency Group, who responded to his story by donating multiple evacuation chairs to Hyde High School.
The company also provided comprehensive training to school staff, ensuring they have both the equipment and the knowledge to assist pupils with mobility challenges during emergency evacuations.
The donation means Hyde High School is now equipped to safely evacuate all students, regardless of their physical abilities – something that should be standard practice but remains surprisingly rare across UK educational institutions.
A Natural Advocate
Since launching his campaign, Lucas has demonstrated remarkable communication skills and leadership, speaking to media outlets and rallying public support for his cause. His efforts have now earned him a role as Campaign Ambassador for The Emergency Group, where he works alongside industry professionals to push for policy reform.
Lucas is calling on parents, teachers, school administrators, local authorities and the wider public to back his petition and help make evacuation chairs a legal requirement in all educational settings.
The campaign raises uncomfortable questions about equality in emergency preparedness – if schools have fire alarms, fire extinguishers and clearly marked exits for able-bodied students, why shouldn’t they have evacuation equipment for those who cannot use stairs?
What Happens Next
As Lucas continues gathering signatures for his parliamentary petition, his story serves as a powerful reminder that disability access isn’t just about ramps and wider doorways – it’s about ensuring everyone can escape danger when seconds count.
ITV News Article
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Watch the Debate
The debate will be broadcast on Parliament Live TV at 6pm today (Monday 1st December 2025).