Plainfield student helps wheelchair-bound classmate
PLAINFIELD - What started out as a plan to recycle paper and plastic at one area high school has grown into something much more.
When the school day starts at Plainfield High School, chances are you'll find senior Stephen Scholl and his classmates making the rounds. Each morning, they pick up bottles, cans and paper for recycling.
"We were looking for jobs for our students in the life skills program. We want to promote independence, teach them some work ethics and skills," said teacher Cherrie Riddell.
But since last month, Stephen's job has become easier, since his fellow students built him a customized wheelchair.
"The next thing we needed to do was make it a lefty, 'cause he's a lefty, and on the back we added this hitch. We added a seat belt, where you could take 'em off. Finally, we put the speakers on because we heard he loved music," said sophomore Tim Balz.
The effort to customize wheelchairs grew out of an article in the school newspaper. That article focused on the recycling program which has saved Plainfield High School $17,000 in just one year.
But Balz noticed Stephen labored in his manual wheelchair and volunteered to build him a motorized one. Not only that, they surprised Stephen and his mom with a motorized lift to get him in and out of the family's car.
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"This is awesome guys. I think it's fantastic. You don't find it very much in adults, let alone teenagers who see a need that go out there and make something happen," said Scholl's mother, Belinda.
"Whenever I help him in the chair, he's got a smile on his face. It brightens my day," said Balz. "And Steven's really cool. I used to just think of him as the kid in the wheelchair and I realize he's way more than that."
Balz has set up a Facebook page that he hopes will help put together even more motorized chairs for those with special needs.