After three hours of being in a wheelchair Monday morning, Alex Hartung was getting uncomfortable.

Parts of his body below the waist had fallen asleep by 10:15 a.m. and he had a few hours to go before he could get up and walk back into his life as an able-bodied Stevenson High School student.

Also discomforting for the Long Grove senior his need to use the rest room at some point, and he hadn't quite figured out how he'd maneuver the task that so many students take for granted.

But that was the point: To provide students with a sample of what life is like for students with disabilities during Wheelchair Awareness Week, Oct. 4-8.

Challenges

Hartung, along with four other able-bodied students and a teacher, was discovering life in a wheelchair can be challenging.

Getting to classes was one challenge.

Stevenson High School has made strides in improving mobility for students with disabilities by installing buttons to open doors, making rest rooms more handicap accessible, widening entryways and adding ramps.

But, there are no direct routes for students in wheelchairs, said Matt VanLopik, who was helping friend Illija Pod get around school. Pod was in a wheelchair nursing a real leg injury.

Hartung experienced that challenge as he made his way from Room 2400 to Room 2906 in the west building, where his sociology class is held. He had to travel in the opposite direction to catch an elevator up to a long ramp on an incline that took him to the level where his classroom is. Then he had to make his way through student-jammed halls before reaching his classroom. Meanwhile, students headed to the same area from Room 2400 climbed some stairs at the end of the hall, turned left and were at the classroom long before Hartung was.

When he got there, his friends had trouble getting his wheelchair through the door, the platforms for his feet hitting the doorjamb. Doors are some of the biggest obstacles, he said.

Once in class, he was wheeled towards a television set in the corner of the room, where students were watching the Michael Moore film "Bowling for Columbine," which featured a student who was left paralyzed by a bullet.

While the rest of the class sat at desks, Hartung had no desktop on which to write and movement in the wheelchair was severely limited.

Social interaction was also challenging.

Hartung stopped to say hello to a friend in the hallway, but some students around him became inpatient when they had to stop or change course.

Students with real disabilities, who have to use a wheelchair to get around all the time, told the able-bodied volunteers that getting through the school day would be difficult, and they were right, Hartung said.

"It has been a little difficult. I don't want to hit anybody," he said pointing to the metal platforms where he placed his feet.

Speakers

In addition to Hartung's experience, speakers are scheduled to give students an insight into the difficulties those with disabilities face.

Jennifer Warkins, a class of 1996 alum, is scheduled to speak during lunch periods Friday in Room 2104. Warkins helped the 2004 Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team win the gold medal in the Paralympics in Greece last week.

David Kuriniek (class of 2004), who has cerebral palsy and who led the drive to make Stevenson more handicap accessible, was scheduled to speak earlier this week.

Wheelchair Awareness Week is being used to promote the upcoming Spirit Walk, a 4.5-mile walk that raises funds for charitable organizations and kicks off Stevenson's homecoming week.

This year, Spirit Revolution, made up of Stevenson's cheerleading and pom teams, chose to help the Disability Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes athletics for youths with disabilities.

The goal of Spirit Revolution and co-sponsor Diversity Club is to raise between $15,000 and $20,000 for wheelchairs for athletes with disabilities.