Arriving to school each morning is already a struggle for some. To add to this feeling, having to find a parking spot to an individual’s liking means having to arrive early. With the new entrance to the school parking lot, it is something everyone is still getting used to. Due to upperclassmen having open blocks, there can be limited parking when it is time for their classes when the other students have already claimed their spots in the morning. Now, imagine trying to find a parking spot when handicapped in crutches, a wheelchair, or a knee scooter.
In the new entrance of the high school, the handicapped parking spots are down by the administration office. With the change to the way in, accessibility got put on the back burner for more pressing issues. In the old entry, the handicapped spots are closer to the door. During this year at school, many students have had major surgeries take place. Though most individuals have had to be on bed rest and are not able to drive, for some, this is not the case, and the handicapped spots are a necessity. If there is some pain or soreness when arriving at school, people do not want to have to go a distance. So, when there is a lack of close spots or ones with a handicap sign, they will have no choice but to walk far.
Mr. Robinson, science teacher, thinks the spots by the now-called “front” should have been reserved as handicap spots before the school year started. He said, “I think they could have marked some of those spots there, or just like each of the entrance doors, just so that way it is easier because we’ve had a lot of knee injuries. Like, we have an excess number of students on crutches.”
Jasper Hancox, senior, is involved in football, basketball, golf, and baseball. Hancox had surgery for his ACL, PCL, and MCL in September. He was put on crutches to get around with a prophylactic brace around his leg. Hancox said, “Access for other students does not seem as bad as of now, especially with an injury. It could, however, get worse throughout the year as first-year students start driving to school with their permits, like it happened every year.” Hancox thought it would have been helpful for the handicapped spots be moved closer for those who had surgery like himself. He said, “It could have made it easier to get in and out of the school, but escaping the school traffic may possibly make it worse just because it’ll be harder to get out.”
Ultimately, parking at the high school can be a challenge. With all grades driving, multiple spots get taken up. When already having trouble finding a reasonable parking space, envision trying to find a parking spot when handicapped in crutches, a wheelchair, or a knee scooter. The spots closest to the entrance, that should be for handicapped people, are already taken up by students who aren’t handicapped.
