All seniors consider similar factors when narrowing their choice of colleges to attend: The size of the school, the distance from home, offered courses and majors, activities, etc.? Students with disabilities must also consider additional factors: Accessible housing facilities, accommodations in and out of the classroom, the availability and accessibility of assistance, the extensiveness of offered health services, and the availability of reliable, accessible transportation in and around campus and town. What they are seeking is whether or not they will be able to fully participate in all aspects of campus life, or be denied access due to their disability?
When “J” was accepted to her college of choice, she asked for a single room for privacy needs around physical and medical issues. According to “J” and her mom, her resident director said “he knew what she needed”, and gave her standard freshman arrangements, including a roommate. She eventually went home for most of the semester due to illness, but later returned at the start of the next semester- with different housing.
There are only two residential buildings with elevators, but neither went to the basement, so “J” was unable to do her own laundry. She either had to rely on the kindness of others, wait for her Personal Care Attendant (PCA) or wait until she went home to do it there.
In addition to her physical disability, J also has learning disabilities; but she finds those needs much easier to meet due to the prevalence of students with learning disabilities now attending colleges.
“J” was the only student in a wheelchair on the entire campus for two years. At first she felt awkward and stared at, but people soon overlooked the chair, and she made friends quickly. When asked if she felt “over-helped” by well-meaning people, she said that she did, but then laughed and said that if it worked to her advantage she just lets them help. This has been especially true in the cafeteria where some stations are higher than she feels comfortable reaching with other food or drinks in her hand. She said the repeated offers of daily help has been annoying, but she knows that people have meant well.
When I asked her what some of “unforeseen obstacles” for her were, she said that curb cuts being not shoveled or being sometimes in disrepair. She also mentioned that ramps in and out of buildings were sometimes too steep; too ascend them, you must lean forward which is made more difficult when you are carrying books on your lap and they fall off.
In terms of transportation, her college offers shuttles that are wheelchair accessible; but as she and her mother recalled, the lift was broken on the day of their tour, and often since. Once when stranded due to a van’s malfunction, she did receive a ride from the campus police, who lifted her from her chair in to their car and drove her to her dorm.
“J” is now looking at different graduate schools, again, researching the same questions and concerns, but this time with four years of experience under her belt. Her education continues.
[Ed. note: this five-part series is being released one blog at a time over several weeks. See the previous posts
- Introduction: Acclimating to College Life in a Wheelchair
- Part One: Transitioning from an IEP in High School to Receiving Disability-Related Services in College
- Part Three: Fire Drills & Other Unexpected Emergencies
at ChildRC.com. ]
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