Halifax student launches petition to improve school accessibility

Technology educationis one of Lux Melanson's favourite coursesat Fairview Junior High School, so it bothers her that some students can't get to the classroom.

The school has an elevator but it doesn'tserve the lower-level, where the classroom is located, so students who use mobility aids can'taccess it, the 15-year-oldsaid.

"It gets me so upset," she said. "I can't imagine how upsetting it must be for somebody to not be able to take part in a whole class."

Melanson, who is in Grade 9,started a petition as part of a school project, calling for the installation of astairliftaswell as accessible furniture and wider doorways.

She's garnered about 300 signatures since placing the petition in the window ofher mom's store, Lost and Found on Agricola Street, and posting it onsocial media on Feb. 19.

"I'm super proud of her, because she does have a disability, she has cerebral palsy, she sees things differently," said her mom,Anya Nordeen.

Journey Leachhas added their name to the petition and has asked others to do the same.

Leach is a 12-year-old student at the school who is friends with Melanson and uses a powered wheelchair to get around. Leach will be taking the technology-education class next term.

Leach saidthey have been told by other students who use mobilityaids that theyhad to take assignments in other classrooms that were accessible, whichthey disagree with.

"Part of being a student is being with a group of children," Leachsaid.

Mom unaware classroom isn't accessible

The Grade 7 student's mom, Jessica Power, did not know about the issue until she heard about the petition.

"I'm actually quite shocked that there is a whole class that they might not be able to access, and that was never brought to my attention," shesaid.

Power had been hoping to register at Clayton Park Junior High, which is closer to their home, but was advised children with mobility aids are better off at Fairview Junior High.

"It seems like this should have been dealt with a long time ago."

Melanson said thecampaign caught the attention of the school principal, whotold her the school wasaware of the issue and has been working on a solution.

"She had said that this plan was in development for like a year and a half," Melanson said.

HRCE planning to installstairlift

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education said in a statement to CBC News that the organization "recognized earlier this year that a lower-level classroom at Fairview Junior High was not accessible, and the school leadership team immediately sought options to remedy the problem."

They determined that a stairlift would be the best solution, the statement said. Thatwork "has been initiated through the HRCE procurement process and once compliance is met, the project will be started."

The lift is expected to be ready by March 31, HRCE said ina follow-up statement days later.

New schools will meet accessibility standards

Nova Scotia has 373 schools andmany were built before modern accessibility standards, the province said in a statement.

Accessibility issues are addressed at the local level on a case-by-case basis, it said.

All new schools including fourthat will open this year mustmeet accessibility requirements, the statement said.

Nova Scotia has set a goal of becoming fully accessible by2030, the statementsaid.

For her part, Melansonis pleased to hear a stairlift is on the way at Fairview Junior High.

"I will mostly just be happy for all my fellow students who will be able to get to that room."