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Teacher can now use her wheelchair at work

Most of the names in these stories have been changed to protect privacy.

Helen Sarralde is a high school special education teacher who has polio-related disabilities. Last summer, Ms. Sarralde’s primary care doctor prescribed a wheelchair - for use at work as well as at home.

At the time, her office was in a building that was not wheelchair accessible. So she asked the school principal to move her to an accessible office in another building on campus.

Despite completing all the paperwork to process Ms. Sarralde’s request, the school did not provide the accommodation. As a result, Ms. Sarralde could not use her wheelchair at work for more than 10 months. She struggled daily navigating the stairs.

Time passed, and Ms. Sarralde called the Los Angeles office. An attorney in that office wrote a letter to the high school’s principal, demanding that the school immediately provide an accessible office. She emphasized that Ms. Sarralde is entitled to the accommodation under both the Americans with Disabilities Act and California laws.

Negotiations resulted in Ms. Sarralde getting an accessible office and modified bathroom. Ms. Sarralde is pleased with the result, and looks forward to having her wheelchair at work.