Darius Goes to WRHS

On Thursday, Jan. 17, Wood River High School students had five special guests at their school. They were not new students or teachers, but rather wheelchairs donated from various organizations in the Wood River Valley. The purpose? To teach students about life in a wheelchair and the difficulties faced by physically handicapped individuals.

The inspiration was a documentary film, “Darius Goes West.” The film centers around a young man named Darius, who has a terminal disease that leaves him severely handicapped. He convinces his friends to drive him across country to California in hopes that MTV’s hit car makeover show, “Pimp my Ride”, might “pimp his ride” -- his ride being a wheelchair rather than a car. Of course, the story is more than just tricking out a wheelchair; it shows young men working to support and care for Darius, which, in turn raises awareness about the challenges people with disabilities must overcome.

Special services teacher Janet Dennis whose personal growth class organized the school-wide screening and the wheelchairs, said the day received an “overwhelmingly positive response.” Students laughed and cried and learned while watching the movie and watching their peers struggle for a day in a wheelchair. For more coverage, check out our slideshow of the students and their responses to the event.