Reasonable adjustments for temporary long term mobility problems

[UserAgain]

Wasn't sure where to put this, so hoping this is the right place.

DD has had a (medical) issue with her foot for over a year now. The consultant does not know what is causing it, DD has not responded to treatment and we're currently unable to see the consultant due to hospital restrictions due to Covid. Therefore we have no idea how long the problem will continue.

DD is in constant pain which is exacerbated when she walks or stands on her foot. She can generally manage about 5 minutes with her weight on her foot before it gets too painful to carry on. This should be enough to get her around school, but I'm also worried about the cumulative effect of lots of small bits of walking (typically at the end of the day last term she was in tears). Her condition has deteriorated significantly since last term where she was able to mostly cope if she didn't have to use the stairs (was allowed to use the lift).

I think that she will need more concessions in place for her to cope with a full day in (her large with lots of walking) school. I have a conversation with the school lined up but not sure what it's reasonable to ask for / for the school to provide. She's not officially disabled as it's (hopefully) a temporary problem, but I think the long term nature and unknown end date, means that she shouldn't be expected just to put up with things being difficult/painful.

Things I had thought of asking for

• continue to use lifts rather than stairs
• doesn't have to use stairs if fire alarm goes off (or given support to use stairs)
• can avoid the most tortuous parts of the one way system and can take the shortest route between two points (possibly leaving class early/late to allow for this)
• is allowed to sit rather than stand where this is applicable (e.g waiting for Covid tests!)
• is "known" to be a child with difficulties, so she doesn't have to constantly explain herself to staff

There's probably other things I can't currently think of.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience of anything like this, or could advise what would be reasonable to expect from school?

Leaving the lesson 5 minutes early with a friend to carry her stuff is a usual arrangement for a student with e.g. a broken leg. She should also be allowed to wear comfortable shoes instead of school uniform ones.

Can she use crutches?

You haven't mentioned PE, presumably you'd want her not to take part.

You can't expect her not to use stairs if the alarm goes off. Even in a hospital they would strap the patient to the bed and pull them down the stairs. No lifts allowed.

The school would need to do a risk assessment especially regarding fire evacuation. There should be a safe rescue point or evac chair available. How old is dd? What about break times, lunch and pe?

Thanks noble, yes I was thinking this was probably akin to the "broken leg" case. Covid makes things much harder as in theory no one can carry her stuff!
She uses a (single) crutch at the moment but her physiotherapist says she should wean off it if possible (concerned long term usage is causing other issues). I think in a school situation she is probably better to have a crutch as it at least gives a visual cue to others that she has a mobility issue.

And yes, you're right about PE. She hasn't done it at school since December 2019 so I'd sort of forgotten about it!

@Lougle

You can't expect her not to use stairs if the alarm goes off. Even in a hospital they would strap the patient to the bed and pull them down the stairs. No lifts allowed.

I thought that might be the case. Last term she managed fire drill by having a friend help her down the stairs. This was officially not allowed due to lack of social distancing, so it was extremely kind of the friend to do it! It would probably be better to formalise this arrangement (if this is the preferred solution - I think you are right that the school should risk assess). She's 15 and in Year 10. Lunch and breaktimes are outside and there are lots of places she can sit, so I think will be ok.

When I was laid up with a complex broken leg I borrowed a mobility scooter. Might this be a temporary solution?

We are not allowed to use any of the lifts in a hospital if the fire alarm goes off so I doubt this would be allowed tbh, surely the school will need evidence from the consultant before anything is put in place?

What medication have they given her for her pain?

DD spent over a year using crutches over years 9 & 10 before and after knee ligament surgery.

She had a lift key so she could use the lift, was allowed to wear trainers rather than proper school shoes and was allowed to enter & leave the building by the main entrance that normally only 6th formers are allowed to use. She could leave lessons 5 minutes early with a friend to help with doors etc to avoid the crush in the corridors. Fire drills were more difficult as no lift allowed but she was able to hang back when it happened in lessons in upstairs classrooms so that she was the last one coming down the stairs so nobody was pushing her from behind. In assemblies she was allowed to sit at the end of a row to make access easier.

There was probably more, but that’s all I can remember right now. I found the best person to approach for help was the pastoral head of year, she was fantastic, although that might be in part due to spending 45 minutes sitting on the floor in the middle of a corridor with DD when her knee dislocated and got stuck out!

With fire evacuations and lifts as stated above, she can stay in a refuge area if the school has them, usually in the stairwell. The school can also agree that she will remain in the refuge for fire drills but they need to look at how to get her down from the refuge in a real fire scenario.
The arrangement could be as simple as designating her a buddy who waits with her at the refuge until traffic is lighter on the staircase when she can then proceed down slowly.

An evac chair creates manual handling risks and with covid, not sure how that can be managed.

Most lifts would ground when the fire alarm goes and cannot be operated even if they attempt to use them.

They need to put together what is called a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan, PEEP as part of the risk assessment process.