High school student urges wheelchair‑accessibility buttons at media center and cafeteria doors

A North Kingstown High School senior addressed the school committee during public comment on Aug. 19 to request improved wheelchair accessibility at the high school. The student, Sofia Azalina, said her brother is wheelchair‑bound and that two locations in particular — the media center (library) and the cafeteria doors — would benefit from handicap push‑button door openers so students could enter independently.

Sofia described the challenges she and her brother faced, saying she often needed a second person to hold doors while she pushed her brother’s wheelchair through. She urged the committee and administration to consider installing automatic door openers at those two high-traffic locations.

The superintendent acknowledged the public comment during the subsequent facilities update and noted ongoing work to prepare buildings for the school year. Committee members did not vote on the request during the meeting; the superintendent said facilities staff would continue to monitor building readiness and projects in the coming weeks.

Why it matters: Automatic door openers improve independent access for students with mobility impairments. The committee receives formal budget and facilities requests annually and must balance accessibility upgrades with other capital and maintenance priorities.

What’s next: The facilities team will assess needs for the high‑school entry points and include accessibility work in upcoming project lists, subject to budget and scheduling.