Here at HPHS we have a very diverse student population. A group of students that goes under the radar are students with disabilities. Now everyone knows of our beloved students in special education classes and the challenges they face.
However, the spotlight today is on the students who aren’t in the Special Education program who have obstacles of their own to overcome.
Many students who aren’t a part of the Alternative Curriculum, have disabilities of their own, both mental and physical.
A survey of 15 students shows that 60% of students who aren’t in the Special Education Department who are presented with physical or mental obstacles. With 46% of these students having a diagnosed disability.
I am a part of this proportion of students, at 11 years old I was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. This disease causes progressive weakness, stiffness, and difficulty walking.
My disability has caused many challenges for me while at school, like stopping me from participating in sports. In elementary I was always playing soccer and volleyball, I would constantly be told to do sports in High School; and I couldn’t wait to live up to their suggestions. But when the time came, I couldn’t do it.
I knew realistically coaches wouldn’t discriminate against me, and if I was able to play in the game they would allow me join the teams. But I also knew my limits and that even if I did acquire a spot on a team I would just be a burden to my teammates, which would probably get me kicked off the team.
Another downside to having HSP is making it to class on time and passing PE. While I do make it to my classes right before the bell rings and I managed to pass both years of PE with an A, I have/had to work 5x harder than the average student.
This is a frustration I’m sure other students are familiar with. Others face challenges of their own.
On the survey many people shared some of their struggles, one student (who would like to stay anonymous) who is diagnosed with ADHD and has suffered a Knee Injury shared those obstacles.
They explained how their most notable struggles being running/ walking, sleep, focusing, vocal stims, getting up when they kneel down, falling frequently, and balance.
Another student— who would also like to stay anonymous, diagnosed with depression stated “Focusing on school in general is a big obstacle”
They spoke about despite this challenge they are proud of themselves for getting good grades and passing their classes.
“School can often feel overwhelming and stressful as an AP student, this struggle was at its peak for me junior year.” another student adds.
They explain that they struggle to retain information due to stress and anxiety, but they try not to let that get in the way of their grades. And Although this student is not officially diagnosed with a disability, the obstacles they face are still valid and should be acknowledged.
Overall we can see each student has their own silent struggle, but they all continue to persevere. In my opinion the resilience to overcome any challenge that is presented is much more noticeable than any type of disability.
Written By: Samantha Rivas, Staff Editor