Halifax student launches petition to improve school accessibility

Technology education is one of Lux Melanson's favourite courses at 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't serve the lower-level, where the classroom is located, so students who use mobility aids can't access it, the 15-year-old said.

"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 a stairlift as well as accessible furniture and wider doorways.

She's garnered about 300 signatures since placing the petition in the window of her mom's store, Lost and Found on Agricola Street, and posting it on social 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 Leach has 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 said they have been told by other students who use mobility aids that they had to take assignments in other classrooms that were accessible, which they disagree with.

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

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," she said.

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 the campaign caught the attention of the school principal, who told her the school was aware 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 install stairlift

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. That work "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 in a follow-up statement days later.

New schools will meet accessibility standards

Nova Scotia has 373 schools and many 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 four that will open this year — must meet accessibility requirements, the statement said.

Nova Scotia has set a goal of becoming fully accessible by 2030, the statement said.

For her part, Melanson is 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."