San Luis Obispo High School has been standing for years and through that time it has improved in many ways. However, there is one aspect of SLOHS that still needs to be improved: accessibility for students on crutches and in wheelchairs.
Many students who end up on crutches or in wheelchairs find it hard to get around campus. These students usually have been through enough as it is and shouldn’t have to deal with difficulty getting around campus on top of everything else.
“The inaccessibility of the campus is a serious problem that is constantly pushed to the side,” said senior Winnie Carroll who has been stuck in a wheelchair for a few months now.
Although these problems may seem small, to people on crutches or in wheelchairs it’s a lot worse. Not being able to walk does a surprising drop in their moral. As said by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), being on crutches can cause depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and substance use or abuse. This is why SLOHS should work on doing more to help those who can’t walk, whether it’s temporary or not.
Overall, SLOHS should work on making easier access points for students in wheelchairs or on crutches like making it easier to access the school from the parking lot or putting ramps in more convenient places. Things like that can go a long way in improving overall accessibility for these students. Carroll thinks the same way.
“I would make the parking lot entrance accessible. I currently have to come all the way around the adult school entrance behind the library, and it makes me feel like I need to hide my disability,” said Carroll.
