Canada School Gets Stairlift Based on Student Petition

A stairlift is being installed at Fairview Junior High School in Halifax, Canada, after a 15-year-old student launched a petition in February for having one installed in the school since some students could not access the school’s technology-education classroom in the basement, CBC News reports. The petition called for a lift on the stairs that lead to the classroom so that barriers could be removed for students who use mobility aids, the source reports. The Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) said it had already recognized the issue and was working through a procurement process. The lift was expected to be in place by March, but this was changed to the end of May when it was determined a specialty lift was needed. HRCE said the lift is now in place. “Installation and testing of the chairlift at Fairview Junior High has been completed. Inspection by the Department of Labour is the next step and once approved, it will be operational for students,” a statement released to CBC News said. No timeline for the inspection was provided.