By Mary Chichester
Lately, my For You Page on TikTok has shown me a very specific niche of content. This content is what inspired me to write this piece. TikTok user @immarollwithit has been documenting their experience as a wheelchair user at UMass. Their story has led to a lot of publicity on the accessibility of college campuses and led me to find another TikTok page @CampusAccessNetwork. This page advocates for more accessibility in higher education. All of this inspired me to do some research into our schools policy and practice when it comes to accessibility.
The first perspective to look at is that of the individuals who need accessibility in order to thrive on our campus. Abigail Pixly (‘24) is one of these people. Last school year, after knee surgery, she was required to use crutches and wear a straight leg brace. She was also not allowed any weight put on her leg. Soon, she will be getting another surgery and needing to use crutches again. In sharing her story she shared that she was very lucky to live in Lambein, where the elevator (known as Otis) could prevent Abby from having to take the stairs. “However,” She said, “Otis is not the most reliable elevator in the world and there were many times that he had broken down and I had to use the stairs, which was not only hard for me but also dangerous.” I hate going up the stairs period, but on one leg sounds horrendous.
Abby doesn’t have all bad things to say though, she ended her interview with me by saying, “Mr. Plymale then reached out to me asking if there was anything that his department could do to make getting around with crutches in the snow easier and this gesture was immensely appreciated.” If you don’t know who Mr. Plymale is, he’s the director of facilities, and has been since 2012. Upon reaching out with questions about the state of accessibility on campus, he was very forthcoming with the way his department approaches accessibility. He first explained that they do much of that kind of work on an individual basis. He meets with students, faculty, and guests as needed to address their needs. Some of the accommodations they have offered in the past have been “installing railing, handicap door openings, ramps, intercom systems, changing door hardware, renovating spaces, identifying other spaces on campus that can be used instead of inaccessible areas, upgrading fire alarm systems, installing elevators, grinding uneven sidewalks, patching holes in roads and sidewalks, and providing transportation means to students with mobility issues to name several of a long list.” A long list indeed!
From this response, a few things stick out. Firstly, the mention of handicap door openings. This is something that falls under the term Universal Design (UD). I first learned about UD in my education classes as an important factor for having an accessible classroom. UD is when an environment is accessible to all parties. This doesn’t just mean people with disabilities. A handicap door opener is helpful for wheelchair users, but also carrying a big pile of boxes to the campus center, texting and walking, people with strollers, and so many other situations. Personally, I have a nerve condition that limits the use of some of my limbs. On days when it is too painful to pull open a door, those buttons are so helpful. Mr. Plymales willingness to install them when needed on an individual basis is great, but they should be in every building and every doorway.
A response I often get when discussing accessibility at Houghton is “then those people [people with accessibility needs] shouldn’t come here”. Instead of using this rhetoric, I think we should look to my old pal, Jesus. Jesus was accessible. He did not sit in the temple where not all could reach him and leave those who couldn’t without his lessons saying “Then they just shouldn’t bother seeking my truth”. He met people where they were and accommodated for their needs. When the rest of the world shunned those with disabilities or chronic illness, Jesus advocated for them and brought lessons of inclusion.
Practically, I think those in charge of construction, remodeling, and accessibility should take a Universal Design stance and consult those with disabilities before they have to reach out for help. Being proactive in our approach to accessibility not only shows how committed we are to following Jesus’ example, but how committed we are to the safety and well being of our siblings with accessibility needs as well. Students can partake in the push for accessibility by advocating to those with the power to make these decisions. We can be advocates.
Marc Smithers summed up the way we should strive for accessibility best in his response to my inquiry for questions: “Houghton has always strived to be a welcoming community to people from all backgrounds and the accessibility of our campus is an important measure of our ability to do that well.” ★
