If you have a class in the gym or theater building, or if you eat lunch outside, you have to cross the courtyard. And as summer approaches, the fresh and clean concrete is getting increasingly blinding. “I walk around with my eyes nearly closed. I have to be careful not to bump into people or things because I only leave myself a tiiiny slit of vision which only lets me see a couple feet ahead of me,” said Sadie, a senior at Lincoln. “My vision is already horrible (average glasses wearer) and I fear that exposure to the LHS concrete will rapidly deteriorate what little vision I have left”

What’s happening?

Because Lincoln is a new building, the concrete poured outside is clean and very reflective. Students leaving buildings can become disoriented if their eyes don’t adjust fast enough. And because there’s so much concrete in that part of the school, basically anywhere you look can become blinding.

“I was so disoriented, I ran into a fifth grader visiting to see the play” -Julia, Junior

“The concrete corridor is way too bright. It reflects the sunlight and makes me sneeze way too often” -Andrew, Sophomore

“It makes me feel like the sun is burning a hole in my brain. If this continues, I won’t be able to go to school anymore“ -Ava, Junior

“After the senior event, I went out and couldn’t see anything. I thought it was just me” -Samantha, Senior

“I fr got dark spots in my vision since I have super high light sensitivity, nearly passed out lol” -Madeline, Sophomore

“I have to walk around the courtyard with my eyes closed” -Carson, Junior

“I couldn’t see for 6 days” -Nadia, Freshman

“Coming up from the basement to go to band class, I struggle to see my surroundings, which causes a big tripping hazard” -Callum, Sophomore

“Every time I’m in the courtyard, it’s genuinely hard to see :( Plus with my light sensitivity I try to avoid it” -Ella, Junior

“It’s bright, can't see for a few seconds after leaving the building” -Owen, Sophomore

“Whenever I am leaving the music building early in the morning, I’m like ‘oh my god ahh my eyes’” -Wren, Junior

Is it a real problem?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with light sensitivity disabilities. And any government-funded project is required to meet ADA guidelines. Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, government agencies cannot discriminate against people with light sensitivity disabilities.

There aren’t many formal standards to protect people with light sensitivity disabilities. However, the school definitely could put in place measures to improve accommodation.

Are there any benefits to the concrete?

I’d say there’s three:

1. Higher albedo can reduce climate change because more UV is reflected off of the planet

2. If it’s brighter, it reflects more heat meaning it stays cooler as it gets hotter outside

3. It looks clean and new and pretty

But what can be done to make it less blinding?

The school could do a number of things to reduce how bright it is. They could install shade structures or umbrellas, paint the concrete with a (good looking and pretty) matte finish or mural, or plant trees to eventually grow and block the light.

It will definitely be a challenge to find a solution that is both good for visibility and also aesthetically pleasing, but I believe that with student input, a good solution will be found.

What do you think Lincoln should do? Let us know on our instagram!