The Classroom:

The classroom is the first space students step into when entering the photography studio. It is important that every element of the photography classroom is adapted for accessibility. If a student with a mobility disability enters the classroom and immediately faces unnecessary challenges, it creates a sort motivational deficit to start from.

A classroom should be arranged to create the least restrictive environment possible. In the case of students with mobility disabilities, one of the first and most basic accommodations to make is to create a space that allows for and promotes movement. This means every aspect of the classroom should be accessible to a student in a wheelchair, on crutches, with a walker, etc. Some key approaches are to:

• Make sure passages are 32 inches or wider, the most common width of wheelchairs
• Keep aisles clear of debris– this includes book-bags and other student artifacts, clarify with all the students the necessity to keep their belongings out of the way and regulate regularly.
• Insure that doorknobs, sinks, cabinets, and lockers are at an accessible height, make minor adaptations, such as ramps, if possible. For major changes consult you school's administration in charge of maintenance and repairs.

These are a few starting points to preparing your classroom in an accessible manner, although the intricacies of each classroom will dictate what other adaptions and customizations should follow.