Theft of trailer creates hardships for Gwinnett students with disabilities
Gwinnett County public school officials asked for the public’s help Wednesday to find a trailer stolen some weeks ago that was used for a team of disabled students. The trailer held equipment for those students, who play various sports in the school district’s adapted sports program.
Officials said it was stolen during the Christmas break from Hull Middle School, where the team, the Gwinnett Heat, practices and plays its home games. Surveillance video showed two people breaking a lock on the trailer and taking it, but the images weren’t clear enough to identify the thieves, said Mike Phillips, the Heat’s coordinator.
The Gwinnett Heat is made up of public school students with a physical disability or an orthopedic impairment. They play wheelchair basketball, football and handball. They’re in their basketball season now, and the team has a 3-0 record.
The Heat is temporarily using another trailer, but parents are having to carry more equipment and can’t in some cases.
“It’s just a hardship,” Phillips said.
Phillips said they’re in discussions with school district officials on replacing the trailer.
Gwinnett purchased the trailer through a grant from the Waffle House Foundation in 2013.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
