School Tells Wheelchair-Bound Student He Can't Participate in Field Day

“I’m jake I attend bucks county technical high school and received this letter that I believe is discrimination.”

That Tweet, accompanied by a photo, has prompted one Bucks County high school to revisit its policies on field day participation.

Bucks County Technical High School ninth-grader Jake Wesley said he was told via letter that he was “medically exempt” from the school’s field day, which is this week.

Wesley uses a wheelchair.

“Your child is welcome to serve as a field day judge, score keeper or in some other non-active capacity on field day,” the letter, issued May 26, reads. It also goes on to say students deemed “medically exempt” must wear different colored wristbands than the other students.

“Each medically-exempt student will be directed to the nurse’s office on the morning of Field Day where he/she will receive a red wristband identifying them as a non-active Field Day participant,” the letter said. Students who removed the red wristbands or who were found participating in a field day event would be subjected to “disciplinary consequences,” the letter said.

When Wesley got the letter, he said he knew it was discrimination. He took action by posting it to Twitter.

“I can’t really say I was surprised. I was just mad that me and other kids with disabilities could not participate,” Wesley told Patch. He said he got an “immediate response” from the public when he posted the letter to social media.

The school has since apologized and said it will revisit its policies.

“On behalf of our school, I wish to apologize for this letter. The letter was sent in error. It was a mistake,” Bucks County Technical High School’s Administrative Director Leon Poeske said in an apology note.

All 60 children who received the letter notifying them of their “exempt” field day status will be allowed to participate, school officials said.

Poeske said the intent of the letter was to protect the health and safety of students.

“However, the way we went about this was not appropriate and we know we must change our procedures. Therefore, students who have a medical or health condition will not be identified by a different wristband color. Also we will make sure that there are games and activities for all students,” the apology letter states.

Field Day is Friday. Wesley said he will be participating.