SUBMITTED
Grade 6 students at Naismith Memorial Public School have made a meaningful impact by leading an accessibility project, officially unveiled April 29 at the John Levi Community Centre.
The initiative was inspired by conversations with the school’s office administrator, Nicole Koscielski, who lives with achondroplasia and shared her experiences with everyday accessibility barriers. Motivated to create change, the students launched a Real-World Learning (RWL) project focused on improving access for all.
Using Break the Mould by Sinead Burke—a book that encourages young readers to advocate for fairness—the class conducted accessibility audits around town. They identified a need for easier sink access and organized a 3-on-3 basketball tournament to raise the funds to purchase Step ‘n Wash units for their school.
“We wanted to make it more accessible for everyone—even little kids—so they wouldn’t get their sleeves soaked just trying to wash their hands,” said student Olivia Anderson. “This is our first step into accessibility!”
As momentum grew, the students presented their findings and ideas to Mississippi Mills Town Council, proposing broader accessibility improvements. Their work caught the attention of the president of Step ‘n Wash, who donated three additional units for community use. Two have now been installed at the John Levi Community Centre, with a third headed to another public building.
“We wanted to help people with disabilities have better access in the community,” said student Quinn Suwala-Bratton. “It was nerve-wracking presenting at town hall, but it was worth it.”
The Step ‘n Wash units are foot-activated steps that extend when in use and retract safely afterward—making public washrooms more accessible for children and individuals with disabilities.
Mayor Christa Lowry joined the students for the unveiling and praised their leadership.
“A top priority for any municipality is to be welcoming and inclusive,” said Mayor Lowry. “This is a great example of learning from our youth—they identified a problem, and now we have a more accessible facility because of it. They’ve been professional, focused, and have done an excellent job.”
“This shows the incredible impact of student voice,” said teacher Joe Chalmers. “They didn’t just study accessibility—they changed it. It’s gone way beyond our expectations. The fact that these units are now in the arena, the school, and soon in other places—I couldn’t be prouder of the students.”
This project is a lasting reminder that young voices can help shape a more accessible, inclusive future for Mississippi Mills.
