North Powder Valley School Improves ADA Accessibility

North Powder Valley School Improves ADA Accessibility – North Powder, Oregon

Powder Valley Schools is a Pre-K through 12th grade school, all on a single campus. They are located in the center of a small, remote eastern Oregon town. The school is the heart and center of the North Powder community, where it draws in both students and community members. It is the place where many gather both during and after school hours. It is a safe place providing a variety of opportunities for students and their families to get outside for fun and play.

The school serves students with a variety of needs, including physical disabilities. Community members and agencies provide a great deal of support to try and ensure that each student's needs are met. However, children with disabilities were hit hard by the COVID19 pandemic. Closure of schools isolated these children more than ever and many recreation programs designed for children with disabilities were closed or cancelled. While all children have been impacted by the pandemic, those with disabilities were even more hurt by the lack of opportunities outside of the home to interact with others.

This increased awareness of the need to improve accessibility led to identifying the schools playground as an area that should be addressed. Children with even mild physical disabilities or older adults have trouble navigating the loose fill playground surface. A level and smooth ADA compliant surface will allow students using wheelchairs or other mobility devices to access the playground area and engage with their peers in outdoor play activities. Additionally, parents, grandparents and community members who wish to join children in outdoor play will be able to participate more easily.

Completing this project will ensure no one has to watch kids play from the sidelines of the playground. The JTMF Foundation is pleased to have joined the North Powder community in addressing this need and creating a welcoming, inclusive outdoor recreation opportunity for all.