Dowagiac schools working to make ADA compliant facilities
Published 9:49 am Wednesday, March 18, 2015
The leadership of Dowagiac Union Schools is continuing its efforts to create an environment where every student enjoys the same opportunities and resources — regardless of their physical condition.
The district recently approved work to modify the bleachers at Dowagiac Union High School’s Chris Taylor Alumni Field, with plans calling for the installation for a ramp to allow wheelchair users and other students with mobility disabilities to more easily reach their seats during football and other activities. The school also plans on lowering one of the windows of the concession stand to increase wheelchair accessibility.
The project, which is expected to cost between $30,000 and $32,000, is the first of several the district is looking to complete in order to make the football field fall in line with ADA guidelines, said Superintendent Paul Hartsig.
“To do the whole stadium is a really, really, expensive project, so we’re trying to break it up into phases,” Hartsig said.
The district is also considering changes to the field’s parking lot and walkways in order to increase their accessibility. They would like to see many of these changes in place before the stadium hosts the senior graduation ceremony in June, Hartsig said.
Union Schools’ leadership has recently focused on ADA compliance throughout all their facilities, based on feedback from outside organizations and as well by parents who participated in the series of public building walkthroughs that took place last year.
“As time goes on, our community changes, and our priorities changes with them,” Hartsig said. “We want to ensure the community as a whole can enjoy our facilities, and access them in an appropriate manner.”
Recently, the district board of education approved modifications to the stands in the high school gymnasium, removing some sections in the front row to increase their accessibility, Hartsig said.
“It worked out really well,” he said. “We now have students who couldn’t be included in the student cheering section before. We’re really happy about that.”
