Your thoughts would be nice.
 

Ok. So here's my dilema. Next year, I have a student who's in a wheel chair. That's not the problem. He wants to and in fact he's going to, partcipate in the marching band. This is unexplored lands for me, as I've never had a student in a wheel chair in the marching band. So our (mine and the BPA) major issue is How're we going to get him to and from competitions, as well as up and down from the stands. The Marching band only plays at home games, so that's no problem. We have ramps. However, when we go to other schools for competitions, they do not. One of the BPA members, Paul, is a carpenter by trade. He'll build something, if we can figure out what. One of the suggestions on the table is one of the drum major stands we have. They're specially made to go in the stands, and they provide a stable platform for conducting. Or playing, for our uses. The other part of this is we aren't sure if he should ride with Paul, or on the bus with the rest of the band.

Your thoughts, theories, comments, ideas, complaints, anything else you want to add would be nice. I'm just trying to get some opinions from people who are outside the program, for we're split right down the middle.

i'm not sure exactly what you're looking for. i think i just can't picture it. but, i can just say that it would probably be pretty neat if you could just get the moving of him to places his chair doesn't allow INTO the choreography. perhaps you could have the strapping-est of the young lads help out. but the problem with something like that it might single out the student in the wheelchair, and/or take much time to choreograph. but perhaps not. i have no idea.

Well, I do have two rather large guys in the band, they both play quads. I had considered asking them, but I'm not entirely sure if that's out of the range of accpetedness. What I mean is that I'm not sure if it'd be apprioate. I don't see any issue with it, but I've learned that my district just likes to throw wrenches in my plans.

And has for him being singled out, it'd only be by people outside of the band. I've already talked to them, and they're all for him joining. In their eyes, any who wants to play is welcome. Then from there, there's 250 of them. They have their own unique form of justice. I'm 99.99% sure that they'd watch out for him. It's an interesting tid bit of knowledge, at my school, there's more members in the marchcing band than all of the fall sports combined.

If he is marching in the band how can he play his instrument and control his wheel chair? With most instruments, you need two hands to play them. I think if his wheel chair can switch from manual to remote control, the RC mode would free up his hands to play his instrument. Although the operation and control of the RC should be in the hands of a competent and mature adult. You wouldn't want to hand over the RC to some slighted teenager who wants to run over her x-boyfriend in the trombone section.

Good point, but invalid. We've already got that part covered. Paul is going to be his handler, in that Paul'll push him on the field, parades, reharsal, and anything thing else that has to do with marching band. And luckily, as long as the handler is dressed up in a uniform, it's perfectly legal. The uniform of all band members falls onto the desk of the band director, and I've already got his stuff ordered.

:confused:

how is it legal for a school to lack in accessibility like this?

as for getting to and from competitions, does this student normally take a bus to class or does he have special transportation? if there's already a bus that can support a student in a wheelchair couldn't you specifically charter that one for road trips? i'd think that travelling with the band would be an important bonding experience for the group.

I agree with you Mr Dave, but here's the problem with that. Alot of the schools around here were built in the 60's or earlier, they were built before handicap laws were put into effect. But then they don't have the money to upgrade. Then you say that the state is required or should help them with funding, and then you realize that the state doesn't have money to give out. It's a rock and a hard place.
Luckily, at MICCA Finals, Lowell stadium is up-to-date, so they have ramps instead of stairs. But for the others up to that point, they don't. I put it to the BPA last night, and they're all for me asking Mitchel and John if they would help out with that. Those two are very into the program, and I have no doubt in my mind that they'll say yes without question.

And as for transportation, he get's dropped off by his dad. Unfortunately, his dad works on the weekends, all day, basically. There are special busses within the district that have the wheel chair lifts, but the problem with that is that they're used on the weekends for the community, such that an elderly person in a wheel chair needs to get around. The district lends them to the city, in return the city pays an hourly rate, such like a taxi. I've been looking into it, but everytime I talk to somebody about using one privately, they give me the red tape of politics.
However, one thing that was suggested, and is being considered heavily by myself and the BPA is that we have Mitchel or John carry James onto the bus, then just stash his chair on the bus or in the back of Paul's truck. I really don't feel right asking Mitchel or John to do this, because they will have their own gear to worry about. All the parts to their uniform, their own private items, and anything they need for their instrument (sticks) is a lot to keep up with. If nothing else, I may be able to ask Paul to put him on the bus.

Edit: Just so you know, you guys are being used as a think tank. Thanks alot!

that's a rough predicament. i remember my high school being about that old as well, but instead of denying accessibility it cut funding to the music program (although there were only about a dozen students out of 500-600 that would participate).

as for the bus, wouldn't it be a HUGE liability to take the handicapped student out of their chair for transportation?

Pit?

Luckily, the arts in my district are protected from budget cuts by the school, because we're self funded. The arts teachers in my district got together a few years ago, and formed the arts councile. We do fund raisingers, and we plan our own budget. The reason we formed this council was because otherwise, the 2001-2002 school year would NOT of have had any arts. No music, no theater, no art, no woodshop, no computer tech classes. And 40 or so teachers in the district woulda been out of a job. (By the way, my high school is a regional high school, so we have our own district that overlaps 4 or 5 others.)

And the bus issue is a major issue. However, I have talked to him and his parents, as long as his chair is nearby, they really don't have any issue picking him up out the chair and putting him on the bus. I just have to get it writing.

And Sugar, he plays flute. He said he wanted to march flute, so I have to respect that.

I understand the need to respect it.
But I don't know, I feel like that's going to be so much work.
Have you heard him play?

I have, actually. Tuesday I was at his house all day, just to observe, and he played a little for me. He's pretty good.

So what if he didn't march and just got his own platform and some solos and such?
And maybe you can have him march only some of the time.

That's been brought to the table, however nobody is really liking that one. Especially James. He's totaly against it, as he'll be under the spot light, as it were. He's got a little bit of stage fright. Or....Err...Field fright?

Just tell him he wont always be able top march if it's too much trouble for everyone else, I'm sure he wont take offence or anything, you cant be expected to go too far out of your way for him.

What the hell kind of advice is that?

My 2 shillings:

If you are in the US, there are ADA (Americans with Disablilities Act) laws and requirements about accessibility.

I think you should access your school related resources, and also the ADA itself. Maybe there is already a precedent, and you don't have to stress out over solving this.

How much is it realistic for him to expect, and what is realistic and proper, considering he wants to try to play music with your group, to enable him as much as possible?

A helper for the chair, 2 buff guys to help him up the bleachers, if they are willing, and a platform to sit on don't seem unreasonable. I think thats cool.

A handicap-ready bus is not your problem. That should already exist. Other wise the powers that be/$ that be should provide that.

Excuse me? I'm sorry, but I absolutely refuse to comprimise agaisnt my students. That is a deal and an option I won't take. If he wants to be in the marching band, so be it. And he will be a regular member of the band, per his wishes.


As for the ADA, we can't really do anything, as there's no money in the state. Most schools in state have enough money to stay open. And as for the bus, I've sent a certified letter to the superintident of schools, and to the mayors of the sorrounding the district. Here's a copy:


Let's hope that'll get the fires lit.

Didn't mean it in a harsh way, I just think it might not always be possible without drawing too much attention to him, which you also said you didn't want to do.

I'm not going to say he can't participate like everyone else because of his chair. I'd rather people look him a little funny because two band members are lifting him up into the stands, rather than him sitting in the middle of the field on a platform.

Wouldn't it have been better to ask first rather than threaten legal action straight away ?

If I was someone who received a letter like that it would sap any intention I have of being helpful, and I'd put your letter straight to the bottom of the pile.

I have! I've spent a month trying to get them to listen to me. All I get is the red tape. So, I'll cut through it. And they can't just ignore the fact that my student needs the bus.

OK that sounds fair enough :)

My high school is a regional high school, so we don't really have a district. It's more of an area of influence. That area overlaps 7 other districts. The full sized-lift busses are part of my school's district (AOI). However, we lend them to the other districts that we overlap. We don't have very many students in wheel chairs (2 or 3), so we don't need all 6 busses. For the past month, every person I've talked to has given me a different story. Some say that they're in another district or the garage or they're using it ect. I just got tired of going in circles. Even the garage isn't sure where they are. What a mess.

HAHAHA.. thanks for making me lol. :thumb:

Sorry but unless your marching band becomes a "rolling band" I don't see how this could work.

Did you spell "capable" like that in your letter threatening legal action?

wtf? He already explained how it would work.

Anyways... I don't have many suggestions. But good luck!

He'll have a handler who'll push him, as I've already stated once. Did you know there's a blind marching band? They have handlers as well. Do yourself a favour and bring your mind outta the stone age.


Nah, I spelled it right in the letter, ha. If I even used it in the letter...

Haha, thanks

Oh good.

Marching when blind is plausible because they still have the ability to use their legs. "Marching" when in a wheel chair is physically impossible and therefore makes the concept of a dude in a wheel chair joining a "marching" band quite ****ing hilarious.

I've nothing against disabled people I wish this guy/girl all the best but it's still ****ing funny that a guy on wheels is joining a marching band. It's like a nascar driver taking part in the 100metre sprint at the olympics.

:laughing:

You're really grasping at straws now.

Shall we start banning war veterans who have lost limbs from marching to the cenotaph in London for rememberence day too because they're not 'officially' marching either.

Pathetic

Wow, you're actually backing me up on this one. Normally, you and I don't see eye to eye on things. Or so I think. Maybe what they say is true. I've finally gone insane.

But Captian, he's completely right. Just because he's not marching, doesn't mean he can't participate. As I said, bring your mind out of the stone age, and open your mind. Maybe, just maybe, you might actually be able to function in sociaty.

Not to jump on the bandwagon, but how much more insensitive could you be? That was in very bad taste.

Some people, Kayleigh, have their minds closed.