This is a comment on the issue of accessibility as reported in The Banner article, Not able to participate (May 20). Sarah Christensen is not and will not be the only person that this non-accessibility issue at Hyland Heights elementary school will affect.

Right now there is a little boy looking forward to attending this school in September for the start of his school career. Although this little guy has had quadriplegic cerebral palsy since his birth, his movement has been the only thing that has been slowed down. He participates in everything that his peers do, in the inclusive child care setting that he currently attends. He has been working very hard on his school readiness skills, which for him has also included more independence in his mobility. It is appalling that he has worked so hard to prove that he is ready for “big school” only to find that he can’t even get in the front door on his own!  It was stated in The Banner article that the school boards are provided with adequate ministry funding for capital issues they determine as priorities. Is that to say then that these children, all children, are not the school board’s priority?

In discussion with local professionals regarding this issue, I have learned that this school site also hosts the election polls. Who else then is and has been unable to gain access to their right to vote simply because they cannot open those doors? It is obviously a larger community issue than would first appear and affects us all. Public buildings should have adequate access for the public to use it, regardless of ability.

Karen Bowen, manager, Rolling Hills Children’s Services, Community Living Dufferin