Parents picked a class outing venue with steps everywhere, and one classmate uses a wheelchair

moss_veranda_829216 Oct 2026

A few of us parents in my daughter's Grade 6 class are organising a small outing for the children after the mid-terms. I ended up doing most of the coordination because my partner's work is less flexible about timings. The place most parents voted for is a farm-stay type venue outside the city, with uneven paths and a lot of steps. One girl in the class uses a wheelchair. Nobody has mentioned it in the group, and I can't tell whether that's because they've already thought about it or because they haven't. I don't want to go to her parents with 'will this work for you', as if fixing it is their job. I also don't want to announce a venue change in the group and make it obvious why. How have others handled something like this?

3 comments

citrus_balcony_724116 Oct 2026
I work with children with disabilities, and what I hear most often from families is that they'd rather be asked early than be accommodated quietly and find out later. Ask the parents privately, before anything is confirmed, and ask what the day needs to include for their daughter to enjoy it, not only whether she can get in. They'll know things you won't, like whether a long drive tires her out or whether she needs somewhere to transfer. Most families I work with appreciate that call.
- moss_veranda_829216 Oct 2026
  That's a better way to frame the question. I was treating it as a yes-or-no about access, and you're right that it's more than that. I know her father a little from the school run, so I'll call him this evening.
- amber_marigold_606816 Oct 2026
  Replying to @moss_veranda_8292
  a phone call is a lot less awkward than everyone discovering the forty steps at the gate on the day. good that you're making it.
willow_sandal_392916 Oct 2026
I would call the venue before anything else and ask very specific questions: is there a step-free route from the parking to where the children will spend most of the day, and is there an accessible toilet. Their answer will tell you whether this is a real problem or a manageable one. If the honest answer is no, a second venue suggestion in the group does not need a reason attached to it. Was the vote final, or is there still room to propose an alternative?
velvet_river_690316 Oct 2026
One thing from my work: venues often describe themselves as accessible because there is a ramp at the entrance. That tells you nothing about the paths inside, the toilets or the dining area. If you speak to them, ask for photos of the actual route the children would take, rather than accepting a yes on the phone.