Disabled students like me who attend college or a university are faced with many obstacles. First, most universities have some older buildings which are not fully handicapped accessible. They are grandfathered in so, the new law does not apply to them. Many times, even if the building has elevators they are not always working. Second, most colleges and universities do not have enough accessible bathrooms. Third, during winter months, when there is heavy snow,the property is not plowed well for a wheelchair to ride smoothly. Last but not least, there is not enough transportation options available for handicapped students to go back and forth to school and home and to even attend some of the school activities or even study at the library. Now, we are going to take a closer look at each of these obstacles.
Buildings that are not accessible and Elevators that are Out of Order:
Most of the colleges and universities are very old and they have older buildings which are not accessible. Therefore, handicapped students like me have to ensure that we sign off for the classes which are held in the accessible buildings. In other instances, we have to advise the university ahead of time in order for them to change the class so it can be held in an accessible building. This causes a lot of stress and sometimes, a handicapped student is not able to register for the class he or she wants to enroll for. Many times even if the buildings have elevators, sometimes the elevators break down and it takes a long time for it to get fixed. The scariest part is that most universities are not equipped with the evacu-track system so, in case of an emergency such as a fire, when the elevators are not safe to use, there is absolutely no way for a student in a wheelchair to escape. I always wonder how the school or university will provide safety and security to handicapped students in case of an emergency. I have gone through this experiences several times, on numerous occasions, the elevator was not working and as a result, I had to miss my classes. My university does not have an evacu-track system or any other alternative plan for handicapped students in cases of emergencies. This is a serious issue and must be addressed.
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Not Enough Accessible Restrooms:
Sometimes colleges and universities do not have enough handicap accessible restrooms or they are only in the main building. This is a major issue if a disabled student needs to use the restroom. At my university, there are only two handicap restrooms on the entire campus. The campuses are generally huge and if the classes are held in a building where there is no accessible bathroom, it is impossible for students to use the restroom.
The Campuses are not cleaned Well in Bad Weather:
Another major issue is the sidewalks in winter months. During heavy snow in winter months, the college campuses are not plowed or cleaned properly. Many times, the sidewalks are icy and slippery. It is dangerous for a student in a wheelchair to maneuver the campus during winter months. At my university, this has been a problem. I always end up staying home and missing class when the weather is bad.
Limited Transportation:
There is absolutely no handicap transportation for disabled students on campuses. The campus shuttles are not accessible. This makes it difficult for disabled students who need to go around campus. On my campus, there are no accessible shuttles. There is also not enough transportation available for students to travel back and forth from school and home. I have to sometimes wait over 40 minutes for my bus to arrive and as a result either I miss my class or get to class late. Even though I would like to participate and attend many activities at college, due to the lack of transportation, I have not been able to participate in any of the activities.
As you can see, there are several obstacles handicapped students face at colleges and universities. Above I have listed only a few of them. The government needs to pass laws and change rules for colleges and universities for them to make the college campuses more handicap friendly for handicapped students. Most students have stress from the studies when they attend the college but disabled students not only have the stress of studies but, more anxiety about their safety and accessibility at the universities and colleges. They should like any other students be able to enjoy the experience of college life.
