Accessing a private school in a wheelchair - how much should we expect the school to do to help

[Fretfulparent]

I am hoping someone could advise or point us to someone who could help. DS is currently unable to walk after an accident with multiple fractures to his pelvis and leg. He has had a long spell in hospital and is now at home receiving weekly physio. The prognosis is good although the time scale is uncertain as to when he will be able to safely walk with crutches. We have had a meeting at school where they have basically told us the school has very limited access for wheelchairs and he can only attend the lessons scheduled in the few accessible classrooms. This means he cannot do any things with his friends, go to lunch hall or go the library because of the steps. Consequently I am just taking him to 1 or 2 lessons a day. This is very frustrating for us as he is a keen pupil and just wants to be with his friends. I have asked about temporary ramps/stairlifts but they say they will not provide these as part of the school is grade one listed and they say they are excused from the disability act. Also his disability is temporary. However the main block of classrooms in an 1960's extension and it is this that he can access the ground floor of, but not the 2 floors above. The impression we are getting is that they would rather he did not attend school at all until he can walk as its just all to much effort for them, however I thought he had the right to an education even at a private school. Does anyone have any experience or advice? Many thanks.

I have absolutely no advice because this is one of those situations where, even if you could make use of litigation, it would be completely counter-productive. Obviously for your DS to thrive at the school you need to have a good relationship with them.

But it is an issue that worries me. The sort of school you describe is a stupendous place if you have all your physical faculties. But there's scant regard or empathy for anyone who doesn't.

And this doesn't just affect the pupils of course. It excludes potental staff and makes life hard for visiting family members.

Is there not even one member of staff who can sit down with you and plan a way forward?

Crikey that sounds wrong. So not a single pupil has mobility issues? If a student had an accident resulting in long term physical restrictions they'd what? Exclude them? Like fucking constructive dismissal?!

I studied at Oxford, in a grade 1 listed building with a modern block. We had disabled access for a colleague who was permanently in a wheelchair, they provided speech recognition software for her, ramps to rooms that needed a step access and moved tutorials to ground floor. If they want to they can...

No advice but I remember when I was at, private, secondary school in the 90s and a classmate had her leg amputated with an ongoing battle with cancer. I was telling my husband how the school made no concessions and all our lessons were still upstairs (obvs science needed labs but Latin could easily have swapped into geography room etc.). He couldn't believe how lacking in compassion and "backward" they were. Sad to hear it is still not fully addressed at some schools. Good luck!

Grade 1 listed buildings cannot always be made wheelchair accessible.

The work-arounds usually involve re-timetabling to use accessible classrooms, and a rolling programme (to fit maintenance and new build programmes) to bring general use facilites into accessible parts. The latter is of course impossible in the timelines of a short-term incapacitation.

But even re-timetabling can be trickier than it sounds if they have full subject specialist teaching.

I agree that this is something that you need to work with the school - not just to see if you can get more of your DS's day in accessible rooms, but also in the longer run so that they consider accessibility in all infrastructure projects.

I used to teach in an independent school and was also in charge of logistics, such as room changes.

I have had pupils and teachers who have been able to access upper floors, and I basically re-roomed classes to the ground floor. A lot of times, this meant using the library for lessons.

This often meant that teachers did not have access to a projector, but they knew this ahead of time. If it were a problem, I would have rigged up a temporary one.

If students needed a practical science lesson, the disabled student missed out, but the TA and cover teacher made the best of it.

The biggest challenge we all had was making the disabled student feel that she was not being a nuisance, even though her classmates were totally accommodating.

I work at a private school- we move lessons to accessible classrooms for the duration if a pupil is on crutches or in a wheelchair. Can't believe they are being so unhelpful!

They are correct in the sense that the equalities act addresses those with long term disabilities, not temporary ones, but their attitude is rather crap to put it mildly. They don't have to accommodate him, but they seem uncaring to say the least. Is their pastoral care generally so poor? Essentially you can't force them to do anything, but I would be seriously reconsidering paying them for any more years of education....

I know this is something that really doesn't concern you as You have a temporary wheelchair user, but trying to get any private school to take an extremely academic kid who happens to be a full time wheelchair user or have any sort of mobility issues is a bit like pissing in the wind.

I wish you luck, but with a child testing in the extremely gifted range who was refused even to visit the six or seven private schools we approached on account of her mobility issues, I am doubtful of your chances.

I assume they are providing him with work to be doing at home? So they are providing him with an education (and are probably thanking their lucky stars it is just a broken leg so they don't have to go to the awkward extreme of asking him to leave on account of becoming permanently disabled.

Sorry, not your fault, but most of these schools have a seriously disturbingly attitude to anything that might not fit the 'perfect as culture constructed' model.

Our school was extremely helpful for sisters who had spinal surgery a few years ago. Sent teachers to the house, lessons by Skype etc. There were similar issues with disabled access as only 1 building has a lift and it was too small for a teen in prone position plaster.
This was a few years ago.
I bet your son could FaceTime his lessons. Don't underestimate how exhausting crutches will be. His hands and shoulders will really hurt and a full day on them might be too much.
Wishing a speedy recovery!

We had a wheel chair user at private school in the 80's.He was carried up and down stairs in his chair by passing children/teachers.

I wouldn't give up too quickly, OP.
If you had ramps, would he be able to go up some of the stairs? would it actually be easier if he was in a wheelchair? I am wondering if you could borrow ramps or other aids, the local branch of the Red Cross often has this stuff available for low price hire. Or could a wheelchair be dragged up the stairs by some mates (how old /heavy is he ...) I know this sounds dodgy but it's wonderful how helpful kids are .
Or do you know anyone who regularly uses a wheelchair? Often they have ramps tucked away for emergencies which they might lend you.
I would also ask if he could have lunch with a couple of friends in a room not the dining hall, surely they could bring him a tray and clear up afterwards? Ditto library, bound to be an empty room where they could study?
Get the senco ( bet there is one even in a private school tho she/he may not be publicly acknowledged) to meet with you and get matters sorted to your satisfaction, after all, you are paying! They are responsible for children with physical difficulties, not just learning ones.
Good luck ...

Thanks you so much to everyone who has replied. I am not underestimating the problems with crutches - the head admitted those on crutches also struggle to get around the school. There is some extra work coming home but its not ideal. Its the fact they were so sympathetic when he was in hospital and now they seemed shocked we were even considering him coming to school is what we are disappointed with. We did expect more sympathy/help. The year head is more reasonable than the SENCO who constantly goes on about health and safety - eg what if he falls out of his chair? ( why would he??) the physio has shown him how to go upstairs on his bottom. she says it will be safer than on crutches but they wont let him do that at school in case there is a fire. Its very difficult. There has been mention of swapping of classrooms but the head implied teachers don't mind short term but its not a solution long term. We have another meeting next week and I will update. We are seriously looking into moving schools but DS is adamant he doesn't want to and after all has done well there until now.
My eyes have certainly been opened into the difficulties wheelchair users face.

What would you want from another school - more action or more accessible buildings?

If your DS is old enough to know his own mind it would be a shame to make this an all or nothing matter. Unless the school becomes actually hostile. Could the situation not work as a lesson in compromise and finding solutions? (I know that's easy for me to say - you must be out of your mind with worry.)

How old is your DS? Would it be feasible to home-school him until he is back on his feet? Very disappointing attitude from the school - in your position I'd definitely be exploring alternatives.

Are you still paying full fees?

DS is 13, year 9.
The only reason to look at alternative schools is that this is a crucial year and although we are hoping he will be more mobile by the summer that is not guaranteed and then we would be into year 10 with all the GCSE lesson worries. I think that some state schools have better accessibility with lifts etc and I wondered if DS would have more "rights" (to education) there?

The facetime idea is an interesting thought and I will raise that as a possibility. We are trying to stay on the right side of the head and trying to stay positive, after all a gradual re-entry into school life is more manageable than being thrown in full time.The other positive thing is that he only has 2 early starts so he can lie in until 8.30 on the other weekday mornings!
Thank you for all the support.

Yes full fees including last term when he only had a couple of lessons in the last week.

That fire stuff is nonsense, they just need a plan with an area he goes to and is rescued from there (can't remember the right name for it!!).
It is a long time from now till next Sept, I would not worry too much, there will probably be a dramatic improvement in your son by then (tho it will seem v slow to you, the incremental improvement will mount up.)- don't jump ship on school yet.

He won't fall out of chair if he has a lap belt. And if he does he can be trained in what to do next (see Whizz Kids training stuff.) What you need quickly is advice from an occupational therapist who can go in and advise school, can hospital put you in touch with one asap? they can organise staff training, access, etc. (even in a private school), They are well versed in H and S stuff. If nec could you pay for a private assessment of safety issues? Might be quicker.

My dd is a wheelchair user in a very unsuitable (on the surface) private school and they are brilliant.

Have you thought of hiring a stairclimbing wheelchair? Obviously someone in school would need to agree to operate it as I do not think any of them can be used independently but may be worth looking into.

Thank you Oneeared rabbit. We are seeing the physio tomorrow and she is very good. she bought an OT to our house before Xmas to advise on best way of accessing/transferring to the toilet at home and looked at the stairs and altered her method accordingly. I will ask about the OT advising the school.
My friend is a dinner lady at a local primary school. they have had children in wheelchairs and she has been told to make sure they dont miss out on lunch or play time so she always pushes them wherever they want. she has had no training what so ever and just uses common sense. We have had much better help in theatres and at train stations and in shopping centres etc than at school.
Once DS has actually got to a lesson the teachers have all been welcoming and inclusive. They have all been chatty with me when I sit in the car in waiting if they walk by asking how he is.

Unfortunately the library is rather inaccessible.

vdbfamily - will look this up as never heard of it! thank you

They just need to amend the fire drills for a term or two to include

• people to help him up stairs (arm round each shoulder)
• people to carry his chair up stairs

for lessons and meals and stuff

• people to ensure that he is evacuated in the event of fire

its not rocket science
I know of an Oxford College that wrote a disabled student into their fire drill many, many moons ago

H&S will not kick off if they have sensibly risk assessed it

think of helping him around the school as extra fitness training for the rugby team

the school are behind the curve
if they do not help him, he will get bad results and they will look bad

Now a days Talkin medical staff are prevented from lifting anybody over a certain weight, a yr 9 child would certainly be over this, even in the event of a fire, special slides have to be used on stairs for those in wheel chair/limited mobility. The reason for this is because of the high number of back injuries staff were suffering from and the high number of injuries those being lifted also suffered from, partial dislocations of shoulders were not uncommon. I was involved in organising the schooling of a small wheel chair bound girl, weight less than 40 kg, who was in a state school, a hoist had to be used at all times to move her around (this required two nurses to always be attendance) and the school had a lift. In the event of a fire a special stair slide was provided to get her down the stairs, staff had to be trained.
I'm afraid in 2015 you cannot expect staff trained or not or other pupils to carry anyone down stairs it's bad for the person being carried especially if those carrying him fell and the staffs unions would justifiably have a fit!
I do hope OP you get some help from your school, a friends DS was at an independent school with a nasty broken leg and classes were moved around to accommodate him, friends carried his school bag and he ate in a classroom with a couple of friends, so it can be done.

*Happy& Fairy nuff.
BUT
I know that an organisation involved in disability rights was using porters to carry wheelchairs (and their owners) up stairs because there was no other way into the building into the mid 2000's

where there is a will there is a way
OPs school needs to find the will