The Developing Sink:

The developing sink is an integral element of a traditional photography classroom. Here, students develop their film. Developing film takes between 40-60 minutes, depending on the type of film and the temperature of the chemicals. In our classroom, pictured above, the sink stands 4 feet tall– to accommodate for students to stand and process their film for the duration of the development. While having a high sink and counter is advantageous to those who can stand comfortably while developing, it clearly does not create a desirable situation for those with physical disabilities.
With this scenario, a few adaptations come to mind (some more feasible than others):
Develop with a buddy: The easiest approach is to pair your student with a peer. The developing tanks for film come in three flavors; single, double, and quadruple. If the peer and student with the disability have the same film, they can double up without making more work for the peer. While it seemingly takes the responsibility away from the student with a disability, there are in fact several elements the student can complete without aid.

• Rolling the film onto a reel: the very first step of developing film is removing it from the canister and rolling it onto a developing reel, then into a light-tight developing tank. This step must be done in entire darkness; either in the darkroom or with a film rolling bag. Assuming this student has mobility issues and not a general orthopedic issue that affects all motor skills, he/she will be responsible for rolling the film.
  
• Agitation of chemicals: although the student may not be able to reach the graduates and funnels, he/she can hold the canister and take care of keeping the chemicals in motion to insure even development. Along with agitating the chemicals, he/she can keep track of proper time for each step in the process.

Lowering the sink or providing a ramp: This option is not quite as easy to execute as the previous, and provides perhaps more challenges than solutions. If we were to lower the sink to an equally accessible height, there would still be an issue of shelving being too high and the management of large chemical containers. The shelving could be replaced with cabinets below, and large containers of chemical should ultimately be handled by the professor anyhow. Providing a ramp still faces the same logistical dilemmas while possibility posing a safety threat for all students.
Have an "auxiliary sink": A separate "sink" could be set up for students who cannot reach the existing sink due to mobility disabilities. This could be a series of trays or tubs that can later be drained by the instructor or an assistant. A truly ideal situation would be to have two developing areas– one standing height and the other wheelchair height. This would not only facilitate autonomy for those with mobility issues but also allow more students in general to develop their film and reduce crowding. Of course, plumbing, construction, and the negotiation space would be issues and barriers.
Of these options I feel "buddy developing" is the most reasonable. Not only does it help the student develop his/her film, but also creates a social interaction without removing all responsible from the student with a mobility disability. It is always important to consider how you can promote self-respect and autonomy for all students, but especially for those who start at a disadvantages.