Access for Disabled

As a volunteer in a middle school classroom for the severely disabled, I have a great deal of compassion for these students and their parents. But your article “Access Denied: Ramps for Disabled Student Cost Too Much, School Says” (April 19) points up a situation that causes me great concern! We have gotten away from the concept of the greatest good for the greatest number, and are spending millions of dollars to remodel schools to accommodate the disabled and to mainstream them, when satisfactory, but perhaps not parent-pleasing, facilities exist. As a result a great deal of money is spent on those who can never be totally self-sufficient, while the rank and file suffer from overcrowded classrooms and other shortages.

MARY S. VAUGHEN

Long Beach