What good is a school if you can’t enter? What good is an education that you can’t access?
Inclusivity and accessibility are fundamental principles that every educational institution should uphold. Not just in the way we teach students but in the physical structures that hold up a school.
Let's take a deep dive into the Nigerian Disability Act.
Below is a link to this file, but I want to focus on Part IV, 17-20.
The mandate is explicit: all public schools, spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, must operate inclusively, with facilities and trained personnel ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Have you ever seen a school in Nigeria with a wheelchair ramp?
Shifting our focus away from public schools, citing severe underfunding and understaffing as excuses, raises an important question. Why do private schools not prioritise accessibility? Is it any less significant?
No matter how affluent you are or how much access you have to the nation's top schools, having a child in a wheelchair can impede their educational journey. How can they access the second-floor chemistry lab? Are the doorways wide enough? Is the flooring conducive for wheelchair mobility? Can they easily use the restroom facilities? Can they get on the auditorium stage to make their speech for the Student body president?
The current accessibility standards in all our schools fall significantly short of the mark. When constructing educational institutions, we must acknowledge that we are catering to diverse abilities, not just one.
Here are some ways to adjust the structures of our schools:
Ramps and Elevators:
One of the most apparent and essential physical implementations is the installation of ramps and elevators. The features enable students with mobility impairments to navigate the schools independently. Ramps should be wider gently sloped and equipped with handrails. Elevators should be strategically located to provide access to all parts of the schools from classrooms to sports facilities.
Accessible restrooms
These are a must! They should include wider stalls, grab bars, and sinks with proper clearance underneath. By making this accessible, you are promoting independence and dignity for students with disabilities
Accessible Entryways
The entrance of schools should be welcoming and barrier-free. Installing automatic doors and ramps at entryways ensures that students with mobility impairments can enter the building without difficulty. These also benefit students with temporary mobility issues, such as those using crutches due to a sports injury.
Handrails and Grab bars
Putting these in hallways and stairwells is essential for the safety of students with mobility issues. They provide stability and support while navigating the schools. Properly installed handrails and grab bars can prevent accidents and promote independence.
Accessible classrooms
Classrooms should be designed with accessibility in mind. Ensure that classrooms are spacious enough to accommodate students using wheelchairs, or other mobility aids. Additionally, provide adjustable desks or tables to cater to various needs, allowing students to participate in classroom activities. Improve lighting in classrooms. Using wheelchair-accessible desks and chairs is safer and more comfortable.
Without the proper classroom furniture, students who use wheelchairs are forced to work on assignments in their laps, or position themselves near a desk and lean forward to complete assignments.
Sidebar: Are your school's chairs comfortable?
Students sit on chairs for an average of 5-6 hours a day. The chairs they sit on mustn't cause more harm. Providing chairs that do not have nails sticking out of them should be a given. However, not a lot of schools are thinking about the safety measures they have to implement in their chairs. Yes, Chairs. It would be practically impossible and unsustainable to provide ergonomic chairs for all students in a school. This is not what I am proposing. We live in a warm climate, so providing chairs with breathable mesh and backrests to stay comfortable and prevent excessive sweating should be ideal. There is no need for a school to contribute to potential posture-related issues.
Auditorium Accessibility
For school events and assemblies, it’s crucial to provide accessibility options. Designated spaces for wheelchair users, as well as sign language interpreters or deaf or hard-of-hearing students, ensure that everyone can fully participate and enjoy school gatherings.
Visual and Hearing Impairment
To cater to students with visual or hearing impairments, schools should implement assistive technologies such as hearing loops and provide braille language. These simple changes can significantly enhance the learning experience for these students.
Accessible Technology
Incorporating accessible technology into computer labs and classrooms is essential, Screen readers, magnification software and adaptive keyboards are examples of tools that can assist students with disabilities in using technology effectively. Software like Supernova is an assistive technology for people who are partially sighted or blind. Students who are partially sighted spend more time trying to read and strain their eyes than they do learning. This also has very negative effects on their physical health.
Universal Design
These principles should be integrated into the school’s architecture and infrastructure. This approach aims to make the environment accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. It involves thoughtful planning, such as choosing flooring materials that are easy to roll over for wheelchair users. Real wood, laminate and Vinyl planks are the easiest for wheelchair riders to move on.
Accessible Playground
Play is an essential part of a child’s development. Schools should create playgrounds with ramps, adaptive swings, and sensory-friendly equipment to ensure that children of all abilities can play together and build lifelong friendships.
Accessible measures also need to be taken into account when preparing for emergencies.
Ensure there are visual and audio alarms installed in classrooms, kitchens, hallways and toilet areas to alert children in emergencies. Audible alarms with ‘voice instructions’ that can help guide children with disabilities to the nearest emergency exit need to be considered. Exits and assembly areas are noted for emergencies and evacuation and these areas are accessible to children with disabilities.
The best way to implement proper accessible measures is to ask. Speak to people with physical and non-visible disabilities. Ask them about what will make their lives easier and your space more accessible. I live by the phrase "Representation is Key". How can you effectively implement accessibility measures in a space if there is no representation of accessibility during decision-making?
These little things significantly change how a person experiences their day. It makes or breaks it, and school should make your day.
See you soon!
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