801.2 Architectural Accessibility Position Statement

ARCHITECTURAL ACCESSIBILITY POSITION STATEMENT

Architectural accessibility impacts significantly the provision of all programs and services within the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Accessibility is a means to ensure that school district facilities provide an environment in which students and their parents, staff, and the community in general can actively participate in all aspects of school district programs.

Accessibility is also linked to educational performance through opportunity. Accessibility and opportunity are interrelated concepts which are addressed through numerous state and federal mandates. These mandates require the provision of equal educational opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or handicapping condition.

Providing students with handicaps the opportunity to learn requires the provision of equal access to educational programs and services. Architectural barriers can impact the opportunity to learn by limiting opportunity for participation. For this reason, programs and services will be provided in facilities that permit mobility impaired people to enter, move about, and exit without the assistance of others.

Where architectural accessibility is incomplete, program access will be addressed through:

• Redesign of equipment
• Reassignment of classes and/or other services to accessible facilities or buildings
• Alteration of existing facilities

An attempt will be made to provide program accessibility for students with handicaps within their neighborhood schools. However, within each senior high school enrollment/attendance area, barrier-free elementary and middle/junior high feeder schools will be identified. Parents will be provided the option of selecting a barrier-free school of attendance.