Eatonville students experience the challenges of being disabled

Everything was a little bit harder.

Navigating the hallways. Weaving through the maze of desks in the classroom. Even participating in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Alyx Reynolds’ peers in a food and nutrition class at Eatonville High School got to their feet when it was time for the flag salute.

Alyx, a sophomore, stayed seated. She had to.

The 16-year-old is an athlete who usually has full use of her arms and legs. But she spent Friday in a wheelchair to get a feel for what it’s like for her classmates with physical disabilities.

About a half-dozen other students at the school in the foothills of Mount Rainier also used wheelchairs, walkers or crutches for the day.

It was an activity designed to encourage compassion and discussion – and right away it seemed to be working. When the students took their seats after the pledge, teacher Shannon Steedman turned to Alyx.

“When we say (the pledge) every single day, we say, ‘Please stand,’” Steedman said.

“Yeah, it was kind of hard,” said Alyx, who stood out because she was sitting down.

“Maybe we need to choose a different word (than stand),” Steedman said.

More challenges were to come.

The class was charged with working in groups to make cookie dough. Alyx washed her hands – a task that required her to open doors below the sink so she could maneuver her wheelchair close enough to reach the running water.

Then she rolled over to the paper towel dispenser, only to realize her hands were dirty again because she’d touched her chair’s wheels.

She solved the problem by enlisting friend Jake Mettler, 16, to push her where she needed to go.

“It’s harder for her to get around,” he said, as Alyx worked on the cookie dough at the counter.

But, Jake added, “I’d like to try it next time we do this.”

The activity was part of Disability Awareness Day at Eatonville High. Larae Hall, 17, a junior, planned it with help from teacher Tira Hancock and other students in the leadership class.

Larae is part of a community coalition called Support Services Advisory Group of Eatonville, which works to improve services for students with special needs.

Eatonville High has about 630 students. On a typical day, only a couple use wheelchairs.

Friday’s awareness day kicked off with an assembly featuring motivational speaker Jenny Lynn Adams. The Tacoma woman was born with partial limbs; she had the students riveted with tales of growing up, and with her message of kindness and empathy.

“Everyone has limitations,” Adams told the hundreds of students gathered. “Every person has a ‘disability.’ Each person needs to have encouragement.”

After the assembly, students fanned out into halls.

Alyx headed to food and nutrition. Kat Hurley, 15, another student in the class, also was in a wheelchair. Her chair was designed for someone with little or no use of his or her arms.

The wheels were small and well out of Kat’s reach. The only way she could get around was if someone pushed her.

A friend helped her maneuver food and nutrition. But Kat already was starting to think about her next class: construction. And what about P.E. later in the day?

Alyx wondered how she’d fare during her shift working in the student store. Her arms already were getting tired.

But she was feeling good, too.

“It’s a new experience,” she said of the day’s activity. “It will give us a new perspective.”

Sara Schilling: 253-552-7058

sara.schilling@thenewstribune.com

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