IC Accessibility Project Team strives to increase inclusion for all

A team of high schoolers are working to elevate inclusion across the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD). They are the members of the Accessibility Project Team of the SVVSD Innovation Center (IC).

The IC houses 24 project teams, each offering learners career preparation, local involvement, and compensation. The Accessibility Team was launched in autumn of 2023. Longmont High School senior Anya Wieder started the group after observing that opportunity was often limited for her peers with disabilities. "That did not sit right with me," she recalled. Her realization inspired her to build a group committed to combating this disparity.

The team currently consists of four students. With the support of Liz Wieder, a teacher of the visually impaired, and occupational therapist Mia McCloy, team members Sofia Burks, Claire Schultz, Anya Wieder, and Whitney Zanini meet weekly. Their projects to date include an SVVSD Inclusion Night and an interactive presentation regarding accessibility at the Colorado Science Conference.

Inclusion Night took place in April of 2024 at the IC. Various specialists were invited, each speaking about their expertise within the accessibility field. Presenters included a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing, a speech pathologist, teachers of the visually impaired, and occupational therapists.

The Mead High School Unified Band performed, and Apple representatives demonstrated digital accessibility features. A sensory station was offered to all guests as a calming space. Niwot High School senior Burks reflected, "It really stimulated more questions and interest about actual adaptability."

The team will hold the event again this year, with the date set for Feb. 21. Members are eager to include new components to the event. The Drone Performance Team, part of the IC Aero Team, will hold a show at the end of the night featuring inclusion-related displays.

After their presentation to science educators, students have been invited to speak to staff at the IC and New Vision Charter School in Loveland. The team is also creating an asynchronous professional development course designed to educate SVVSD staff on digital accessibility for students.

"I think I went in knowing that there was a huge gap, and this whole experience has shown me that the gap is so much bigger than I initially realized," Anya Wieder said. "But there are a lot of cool people that are working to help close it."

At the heart of the Accessibility Project Team's efforts is passion for the expansion of inclusion. Liz Wieder said that members "come at it with personal experience, but also so much kindness and awareness, and just good hearts."

"People with a disability can really have a negative, a positive, or even a neutral feeling towards their disability," Burks shared. "And so, for me, that has been one of the most eye-opening things-that we are here to empower and embrace everyone's abilities."