Spotlight sought on improved access to Richmond schools

Feb 23, 2007
BY LINDSAY KASTNER
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Members of the disability community -- including plaintiffs in a lawsuit over the accessibility of Richmond's public schools -- held a strategy session last night to discuss ways to bring accessibility issues to the forefront.

The meeting at Children's Hospital drew about two dozen people, including parents, educators and people with disabilities.

Vicki Beatty, whose son uses a wheelchair, told the group that when she and others decided to sue the mayor, City Council and the School Board because almost none of Richmond's public schools are handicapped-accessible, they were striking out on their own.

"There was not an outcry from the disability community," she said.

Now, the School Board has settled its portion of the suit, and the court has ruled that the city does not have to help pay for repairs.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs say they have not determined whether to seek further legal action. Last night's meeting was about other ways to bring attention to the issue.

Beatty is not the only one who has had trouble.

Yanna Beasley said her son, who attends Richmond's Henderson Middle School, has cerebral palsy and uses a walker. She said he is frequently told that he cannot attend field trips unless she takes time off from work to accompany him.

"The principal, when I talked to her, said it was an issue of safety that I was possibly putting my son's life in danger," said Beasley, who estimates that her son has missed five or six field trips in three years. "I just did not know that in 2007 this was acceptable behavior."

Others shared similar stories, not always from the Richmond school system.

They discussed staging an organized public relations campaign, keeping records of their own problems with accessibility issues and reaching out to influential Virginians with disabilities who might be willing to help publicize the problem.

School Board member Carol A.O. Wolf suggested it was time for a pragmatic approach, such as drawing attention to the economic benefits -- more convention business, for instance that could come from having facilities that can be accessed by everyone.

She said her son, Dale, suggested inviting Mayor L. Douglas Wilder to tour city schools in a wheelchair.

Much of the discussion centered on how to win over Wilder, whether through rational discussion or public shame.

Contact staff writer Lindsay Kastner at lkastner@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6058.