1) North Kansas City high school carpentry and design students, along with district officials, toured a Universal Design home built by the students. 2) The Universal Design concept makes homes accessible to those with disabilities through features like wider doors and hallways, accessible kitchens and bathrooms. 3) State Representative Phil Willoughby commended the project and noted the importance of career and technical education programs, which are at risk of funding cuts.

1. 12,2003
N C Districtirstin nation
f
KELLIE HOUX
withUniversal
Design
house
Another North Kansas City junior,
ASSISTANTEDITOR Mandi Eddings, helped with interior
design. Consumer Sciences teacher
Several carpentry and home design stu- Connie Neal taught the principles of inte-
dents in the North Kansas City School rior design first semester.
District along with district officials and "The second semester came around
other dignitaries took a walk through the and we applied what we learned fIrst
Universal Design house at 116 N.E. 113th semester," Eddings said. "'vVe worked hard
St., Kansas City-North. on this house to incorporate the universal
Superintendent Dr. Tom Cummings design and make the house attractive."
believes this is the fIrst such house con- Rep. Phil Willoughby, D-33, said he
structed and decorated by high school stu- remembered when the students and staff
dents. talked about the Universal Design concept
A Universal Design house is geared to 15 months ago. .
home-owners with or without physical "It was a great vision and now it is a
disabilities. dream house for someone's fanilly," he
"It is a 3 to 5 percent cost increase in said. "The district responded fIrst to the a
building the house, but it is called a 'life- need in the community.
time' home," Cummings said. "The kitchen "Someone said today's students are the
is accessible to people in wheelchairs as leaders of tomorrow, but I say you are the
are bathrooms. Door fran1es are wider. leaders of today." .
The house is more accommodating." Willoughby also spoke out about the
Elizabeth Reinert, a member of the state budget crisis which could eliminate OPENINGTHE HOUSE- North Kansas City High School juniors Phillip
Governor's Council on Disability, is in a $224 million in state aid for public educa- Russell, second to right, and Mandi Eddings, right, cut the ribbon on the
wheelchair. After the students cut the rib- tion.
"This house is a testimony to what a
Universal Design house while Elizabeth Reinert waits to be first inside.
bon to the house, she first crossed the
threshold without any problem. leading district can do to educate all stu- his students with the Builders Association struction. The project has opened stu-
"I want to thank all the students for the dents," Willoughby said. "Progran1s like of Missouri that serves as a go-between dents' eyes to issues that people with dis-
mark they have made on the community," this are in danger of suffering reductions for students and the unions. abilities face, Sweany said. Students have
she said. "You are uniting the community or being elin1inated all together." "The Builders Association represents had to think about what a disabled person
through a user-friendly house that sets a Carpentry teacher Art Sweany said this between 14-15 trade unions - glaziers goes through to perform simple tasks.
new standard. It is a common sense is his 19th house where he has managed who work with glass, tile setters, carpen- Universal Design also made the con-
approach for home building and this dis- students. The district has built 21. ters, electricians, plumbers and roofers - struction process easier for the young
trict epitomizes that San1e COllU110nense
s Graduating seniors have much to cele- the whole works," said Sweany. "Four workers. 'v'heeler said that not having
approach." brate. In addition to the house's comple- seniors recently took the pretest that stairs to contend vith on the project made
The North Kansas City Schools tion, most are set to begin apprenticeships involves math and performance testing. it easier to bring in wide loads, especially
Carpentry Progran1 builds a house each and post-secondary education in the Depending on how well they do, students when students had to carr} heavy tile in
year. building trades. Of the 11 students gradu- can earn so many hours of credit toward and out of the house.
Phillip Russell, who completed his ating, four will go into construction-relat- their apprenticeship time." "I can appreciate the lowered sinks in
junior year at North Kansas City High ed crafts, two will become electricians, Kristen Wheeler, an Oak Park senior the bathroom where you could sit to 'work
School, said he has learned carpentry 1mc two will go into residential home con- and the only girl in the class, is one of the on hair and makeup," she said.
dan1entals, but he is most proud "of the str11ction, one will open his own remodel- graduates planning to attend college seek- She and Sweany both liked the raised
fundamentals the class used' in creating a ing business and two will seek further ing an associate degree in construction electrical outlets.
house for anyone. education in construction management. management. "When you go to plug something in,
"I plan on returning to the progran1," he As part of the district's School-to- The Universal Design concept home you don't have to bend over as far,"
said. "Take a look at the fireplace and the Career philosophy of moving students has brought its own challenges and Wheeler said. "Even ifvou're not disabled.
kitchen, I handled the tih~wm-k " "-~- -, _u ~