Team Access

We are Team Access from Mission Heights Primary School in Auckland. We are a group of children ages nine, ten and eleven, working to get better access for the Life Education mobile classrooms in Auckland. We noticed the problem when Life Education visited our school at the beginning of 2014 when two of our students had to be lifted from their wheelchairs into the van by our deputy principal, who used to be a body builder.

The Life Education mobile classrooms have no access for children with physical disabilities. This means, students or teachers in wheelchairs or who use walker frames can not access the Life Education Program. In instances where they are lifted or supported up the steep stairs, they risk injury to themselves or those helping them. We think there should be an easier and more dignified way for them to be able to access the classroom.

Over the last 2 years we have researched about Human Rights and Educational Rights for people with a disability. We have had help from physios, OTs, engineers, accountants, lift companies, doctors and families of children effected.

After doing a lot of research about ramps and lifts on buildings and vehicles, we decided that the gradient and size of a ramp would be too cumbersome for the vans and they can be difficult for wheelchairs to go up. We decided a portable lift or folding wheelchair lift would be the best solution. We discussed our ideas with Life Education and we are excited that they really liked the idea of a portable lift.

We are now in the process of raising $25,000 to cover the costs of the lift, transporting it between schools and storage options.

This project has successfully competed at the New Zealand Community Problem Solving conference and won in the Junior division in 2015. The students will be travelling to Michigan State, USA, in June 2016 to represent New Zealand on an international stage.

With your support we will be able to help disabled students and teachers in our community get better access to the Health Curriculum that Life Education offers. We thank you for your donation and taking the time to help out students in your community.

-Team Access