GRANGER has a vast population of students, each with different needs and barriers to learning. For instance, students may struggle with getting around the building due to an injury. Since Granger has two floors, students who are unable to use the stairs must take the elevator.
Adrianna Pace (12) was in this situation and couldn’t walk, so the stairs were a no-go. “You can’t go upstairs with a knee scooter,” they said.
Pace says that the fact that students must check out a key for the elevator was kind of dumb, along with the check-in the fee office had them do. ‘Why did they make me walk all the way down here?’ This could’ve been an email.”
Overall, Pace says they were able to get around well, however the bathrooms could use improvement. “I didn’t trust people in the bathrooms, they’re not accessible. It’s hard to get a knee scooter in the stalls,” they said.
Evelyn Sharp (9) had a similar experience. She says the elevator was helpful since her leg was broken and she couldn’t use the stairs. “It was stressful to dig through my bag to grab the key, and it was confusing at first, but I got it by the end,” she said. Sharp also says that she wished there were more elevators in the school. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help — I was afraid, and it was not easy to figure things out on my own,” she said.
Mr. Vallieres, an attendance tracker, says he hasn’t had any issues with getting around the building in his wheelchair. He says it’s been helpful having pre-filled tardy slips for students. “The elevator key to get up and down has been good,” Vallieres said.
If students need accommodations, they need to talk to their counselor. Mrs. Oliver, a counselor, says there are a couple of ways to get accommodations: requesting a 504 with Mr. Workman or asking for passes for things like crutches or wheelchairs. She says that both the student and counselor work together to figure out what solution will work best, whether that’s extra time between classes, or taking a break during class.
“The idea is to take stress off of their backs so that they feel more comfortable in the school,” Oliver said.
She says that the only caveat to accommodating students is the expectation that they will not abuse their accommodations, such as students using bathroom passes to skip class, for example. “If there’s a situation where a student needs some extra help, we want to help them,” she said.
Mr. Taban, who helps organize student accommodations, says that there are accommodations for a vast array of needs. “You can get extensions on tests, change where you learn, take breaks, etc. Some students have anxiety and don’t want to be in the halls with 3,500 other kids, so they’ll leave a bit early to walk alone,” Taban said. He says that for a formal 504 accommodation, Lancers will need a doctor’s note.
Each person at Granger has different circumstances around their learning, and accommodations can help provide solutions to ensure each student has the best learning experience possible. If students need extra help at school, they can talk to their counselor to see if accommodations could help.
