Universities and Accessability pt. 2

Sorry for the hiatus. To be honest, I'm trying to figure out what direction to take this blog in. I'm starting an internship this coming week at a nonprofit startup creating low-cost incubators for resource-poor settings (mainly India and Haiti), so my mind has been elsewhere. More on that in coming posts.

Anyway, I do want to continue the discussion on accessibility and universities.

Growing up in San Francisco, I was only dimly aware of colleges and universities on the East Coast. That said, Berkeley and Stanford were far too close to home for comfort. Because of the surgeries, I had spent a lot of high school physically dependent on my parents for everything from bathing to getting to school, and I was eager to prove to them (and everyone else) that I could survive on my own. Though I visited schools on crutches and learned very quickly that some schools were not very accessible or considerate of those with disabilities, I assumed that such concerns wouldn't be an issue once I entered college a year later. I wasn't aware that the struggles I faced in visiting colleges--from not being able to go on tours to finding most areas of campus downright impossible to access--would be indicative of my experience once I entered college. So with that, a list of things to consider both when visiting and attending colleges/universities.

Visiting Schools: Things to Ask and Consider

Accessibility of a particular campus is usually not something that is discussed in the Fiske Guide or the Princeton Review, so it's often hard to gauge beforehand just how accessible a campus is or who to talk to regarding accommodations.

• Once you have a list of colleges you're interested in, see if they have a committee or individual that deals with accommodations. Usually a search for disabilities on a universities website will yield results, though be aware that different schools have different names for these departments (usually in an attempt to be politically correct) that often make them even harder to locate. For example, Harvard's is called the "Accessible Education Office".
  
• If you're seriously considering a school, call these committees, offices, or individuals and talk to them about how accessible the school is, what kinds of accommodations are available, etc. (a list of considerations and questions to follow). This might sound simplistic, but I came from a teeny (think 250 students) high school, so I was unaware that such offices even existed.
• Before scheduling a visit to a school, ask their admissions department about accessibility of tours and info sessions. Only two of the schools that I visited offered individual wheelchair tours, and I was too slow on crutches to keep up with the group tours. At one school, I was simply handed a map and told to explore the campus on my own.
  
• Tours will give you a very good idea of whether a school will be able to accommodate your needs. If possible, ask for an overnight visit and try to attend classes, as this will give you the best picture of day-to-day life, particularly whether classrooms and dorms are accessible.

Questions to Ask:

• How many dorms are accessible? When I attended Wes, the only accessible dorm was the newly-remodeled freshman dorm. This was great freshman year, but not so helpful when I was a sophomore. There are many unsavory things I would rather do than live with freshman for four years. While many schools have one or two accessible dorms, it is rare that all dorms will be accessible, which can be a concern if there are events held there or you want to meet up with a friend.
  
• where are the dorms located? At Harvard, the majority of accessible dorms are located far from campus, and despite having a shuttle, almost no one wants to come visit "the quad" (located a mile from Harvard Yard). Furthermore, the older houses are so ridiculously inaccessible, that I found it difficult to visit my friends in the houses closer to the main campus. While I understand that it is both expensive and difficult to remodel older buildings, my inability to even visit friends in other dorms/houses was frustrating and limiting.
  
• Where is the laundry? This sounds ridiculous and frivolous, I know, but trust me when I say that trying to drag your laundry two blocks and then down to the basement with a broken hip is a PAIN.
  
• Where is the dining hall and is it accessible? Take into consideration how far you have to go from your classes or dorm to the dining hall and whether that path is accessible (particularly in the winter, a time in which previously accessible areas can turn into impromptu ice skating rinks). Also, get comfortable asking someone to help carry your tray if you need it. Friends are usually good for this, but make sure that the dining hall staff is also comfortable helping out if need be. (This can mean everything from carrying your tray to telling you what food is available and helping you serve yourself).
• Where are the mailboxes? Again, distance and accessibility is important, particularly if you're receiving packages. Ask the mail room staff whether they can deliver to your dorm (this can be difficult depending on the level of security and access in your dorm), or whether a friend can pick up your mail for you (also difficult if ID is required). Consider also whether the mailboxes themselves are easy to open. Twisting dials and locks can be difficult for many people, and some schools are willing to put in key locks or more accessible locks if needed.
• NOTE: If you're not needing a fully wheelchair accessible dorm and are walking (whether with assistance or on your own) some things to consider: Are there bannisters on all stairs? Is physical plant able to put in grab bars or other devices in the bathroom? (at both Harvard and Wesleyan I had them install grab bars in the bath and shower so I could easily get in and out without requiring a wheelchair accessible bathroom). Also consider how long it takes to get these needs met. Physical plants are notoriously busy and overbooked, so sometimes it can take weeks or months to get something installed. See if they can do this work over the summer so everything's ready once school starts)
• How do you get to class or other buildings on campus? Consider the distance to classes and whether there is transportation offered. Many larger schools offer accessible vans or buses to and from different areas of campus, but this is rare in smaller schools (simply because of distance or demand). A "small" campus is relative, particularly in the winter, when walking the block can be challenging. Figure out who can give you a ride--if the school doesn't have a van service, sometimes public safety can offer a ride, though these cars are often not wheelchair accessible.
• are classrooms accessible? Again, this is where you run into the conundrum of old buildings. Usually science centers are fabulously accessible (particularly since they get remodelled frequently) while social science or humanities departments are stuck in old buildings. Usually you can work around this, and a lot of universities are willing to schedule classes in accessible rooms, but sometimes this can have comic results. For instance, they once relocated an English class of 14 to a huge lecture hall in the science center...even i said i didn't mind if they moved it to another building.

Things to know while at school

• Be Proactive: for the most part, it's up to you to contact the accessibility office, get documentation, and ask for what you need. Get to know these people well and really advocate for your needs. Ideally, try and get everything set up before you go back to school so you're not scrambling to figure things out at the last minute. Also know that it is your responsibility to ask for the help that you need, whether it's extra time on exams or the use of a computer. Most profs are extremely accommodating, but it's up to you to ask for their help.
  
• Know who to call for transportation. A lot of schools have a list of students that are able to use the accessible transportation. make sure you are on this list (usually done through the accessibility office). I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to "think" you are on this list, call for help, and be told they cannot help you because you're not on the list.
  
• Know the number for physical plant: Not only do are these people in charge of installing any kind of aides you might need in your dorm, but they're also usually in charge of plowing and salting in the winter. Again, sounds trivial, but you want to know who to call if the path to class has suddenly transformed into an ice rink or if there's a large snowbank blocking the stairs or banister.

Phew. I think that's it. sorry for the length guys.

Annie

image: my own, taken at Wesleyan in Spring 2004.