Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be confined to a wheelchair? In Great Bend High School, there are about ten exits that are suitable for a wheelchair to get out. This may seem like a large amount, but the placement of these exits are not easily accessible. In case of an emergency, any students handicapped by a wheelchair in the science/math hallway, or in the choir room, would have to either be pushed down the stairs, or moved to a wheelchair ramp.

As well as the difficulty making a quick escape, there is also the troubles opening doors. Trust me, not everybody wants to take the time to hold a door for somebody that cannot move at the usual speed. Getting into the bathrooms  turned out to be one of the most difficult maneuvers. The doors are pretty heavy for somebody that cannot stand to pull it open. Also, getting a wheelchair into a bathroom stall, close enough to the toilet that you can lift yourself from the chair to the toilet, and back again isn’t easy. All of those things capped themselves off when the handicap stall was occupied by a perfectly able person that did not truly need to be in that stall.

My day in a wheelchair went smoothly for the most part. Many people were sympathetic and willing to help. One teacher even moved desks around so I would have a comfortable place to sit, and would not feel like I was no longer a part of the class just because I could not sit in a normal desk like the other students. It was definitely easy to tell which teachers had been in the situation I found myself in for a day. Being in a wheelchair teaches you about what all a students that has a physical handicap must go through in order to be in school for a day.

Ms. Strickland is an English teacher here at Great Bend High School. For a few month during the 2014-15 school year, she had to be in a wheelchair with a cast on, and her foot elevated to help alleviate as much of the swelling as possible. I asked what was the hardest thing for you while being in a wheelchair at Great Bend High School? She said, “Honestly, my biggest struggle was just getting around.  It took a lot of energy to wheel myself around, and it was hard to navigate through smaller areas.”

I also asked her what her biggest fear was while being in a wheelchair?

“I’d just broken my ankle, so I was in a wheelchair because I couldn’t put any weight on my leg for several months.  I also had to keep my ankle elevated to help reduce the severe swelling.  My biggest fear was that someone would bump into me and hit my cast.”

After spending a day in a wheelchair I realized for myself how handicap-accessible our school is, and It is clear to see that many people have different concerns about how being in a wheelchair can affect your life. Please do all you can to help somebody you see struggling in a wheelchair.