Back-to-school season can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for families navigating life with mobility challenges. Whether your child uses a wheelchair or other mobility equipment, getting back into a school routine often means extra planning to ensure accessibility, safety and comfort.

These tips are designed to help your family prepare for a smooth start to the school year, both inside and outside the classroom.

Tour the School and Plan for Accessibility

Before the first day, ask to tour your child’s school to evaluate accessibility firsthand. Are classrooms, hallways, restrooms, and cafeteria entrances easy to navigate? Do elevators work properly? Are there any steps, narrow doorways or uneven surfaces that could pose issues?

Identifying these potential barriers early gives you and school staff time to address them and gives your child a more comfortable first day.

Meet with Teachers and Staff

Reach out to your child’s teachers, aides, the school nurse and front office staff before school starts. Share important information about mobility needs and any adaptive equipment your child uses. If your child needs extra time to transition between classes or uses alternate entrances or emergency procedures, it’s helpful to document these expectations in advance.

Ongoing communication is key to making sure everyone is on the same page, especially as routines evolve throughout the year.

Review Transportation Plans

If your child takes the bus, confirm that the assigned vehicle is wheelchair accessible and that the driver is trained in mobility assistance. If you transport your child using your own wheelchair accessible vehicle, now is a good time to double-check that your ramp or lift is working properly and your vehicle is ready for the daily routine.

If your family is exploring options for reliable transportation, our lineup of accessible vehicles is designed to help families travel comfortably and safely, whether it’s for school drop-off or after-school activities.

Prepare for Unplanned Situations

Sometimes, elevators break. Ramps get blocked. Classrooms get moved. Talk with your child about what to do when plans change or when something unexpected happens. Creating a simple backup plan can help your child feel more confident and empowered, even when the environment isn’t perfect.

Create a Homework-Friendly Home

Back-to-school prep doesn’t end at the school doors. Make sure your home is set up to support independent learning after hours. Think: a clear path to the desk or table, a comfortable chair, good lighting, and any assistive tools your child may need to complete their assignments.

If stairs or thresholds present a barrier at home, a few home accessibility updates, like portable ramps or stair lifts, can go a long way in helping your child move freely and confidently.

Encourage Your Child’s Voice

Advocacy is a learned skill, and school can be a great place to practice it. Support your child in speaking up for themselves, whether it’s asking a teacher for help navigating a space or explaining what they need in a group setting. The more your child understands their mobility needs, the more empowered they’ll feel in and out of the classroom.

You’ve Got This

Back-to-school season may take a little extra coordination, but it’s also full of opportunity. With the right planning, communication and reliable transportation, families with mobility needs can head into the school year with confidence and excitement.