Figure 2 - 1: Cut Out Table
School districts can design and construct or order height adjustable desks and tables from a number of suppliers. The following illustrations show a variety of commercially available and custom designed tables and desks.
The kindergarten "cut-out" style height adjustable table in Figure 2-1 gives the table top graduated heights between 38 and 58 cm. from the floor. Positioning the student in the "cut-out" provides the student with a greater degree of forearm support during tabletop activities.
Figure 2 - 1: Cut Out Table
Figure 2 - 2: Adjustable Height Desk
This "lift-lid" adjustable height desk is one example of a number of styles available.
School teams may decide to work closely with the carpenters in their own school districts to design and produce custom desk projects. For example, the Maintenance Department in School District No. 38 (Richmond) has collaborated with school staff on a number of occasions to design customized workspaces for Richmond students.
Appendix D provides school teams with a framework for designing a customized classroom workspace.
In some schools, planning and creating workspaces for students with special needs is carried out in the school technology education program. Outcomes in the curriculum for secondary technology education encourage design and fabrication of real and functional items. Schools and districts who want to consider this method of developing workspaces will need to be sensitive to existing employee/district collective agreements.
Figure 2 - 3: Custom Desk Design (Tom Black, Carpenter, School District No. 38 - Richmond)
This custom designed workspace illustrates a number of innovative features to meet the needs of the student.These features include a cut oot table top, an adjustable angle deasel, additional storage spaces for utensils, supplies, and books, and castors to allow for easy movement from classroom to classroom.
Desktop easels can be attached to regular classroom desks. Height adjustable desks are preferred. These two are easy to attach and remove which makes them very practical for students moving to several locations during the school day.
Figure 2 - 4: Custom Design (S.D. No. 33 - Chilliwack)
This desktop easel has guide bars that keep hard cover books fixed to the desktop. It also makes use of a blackboard surface for "chalk-in-hand" activities and, if desired, the use of magnets to hold paper activities in place.
Figure 2 - 5: Custom Design (S.D. No. 33 - Chilliwack)
This custom easel desktop provides forearm support. The addition of the hinged supports ensures that the original desktop does not have to be modified or cut in any way. The flip-up style improves access to the desk and to supplies. All hinges are recessed on the underside of the work surface. For safety, a velcro strap can be used to fix the inclined easel in place on the standard desktop.
There are a number of ways to create height adjustable work tables. The less expensive method is by bolt adjustments similar to the height adjustable chairs and desks. Other methods that allow staff and students to quickly alter the settings include hand crank design, hydraulic design, or electric design.
In situations demanding quick changes, where a variety of heights are required, ease of altering height is a factor in deciding which mechanism to select.
Figure 2 - 6: Round Work Table
The hydraulic mechanism on the pedestal adjusts the height of the table easily, operating like a dental chair. This feature may be useful for a student requiring a variety of positions during the course of the school day.
Some school districts order commercial desks and tables while others prefer to make their own depending on price, time available to fabricate, and costs of materials and labor. Examples are illustrated below.
Figure 2 - 7: Height Adjustable Table
Figure 2 - 8: Easel Split Desktop
If left or right handedness and/or vision needs which include impairments on one side require consideration, a partial easel may be the best choice for a desktop. In this model, the desktop height is also adjustable with a crank. Most suppliers will provide a right or left split model.
Figure 2 - 9: Adjustable Classroom Desk
This desk illustrates a "made to measure" model which includes an individually designed cut out in the desk top and easily accessible storage spaces. Some commercial suppliers offer special orders for custom desktops, tables, computer tables, and other adjustable furniture to meet the special needs of students in school.
Figure 2 - 10: Folding Mounting Arm
The best solution may be a folding mounting arm to which technology can be atttached. This solution is a very portable and secure adapted workspace. However, the weight of the technology must be considered with the balanced weight of the student and his/her wheelchair.
