Author’s Note: Part of accessibility is acknowledging that there are inaccessibilities in the world around us, including Andrews University. As I examine each building from my (a disabled woman) point of view, I am looking at the buildings themselves and identifying the inaccessibilities that exist and should be fixed. We all need to work together to make this campus more accessible.
Since many may wonder if I have the qualifications to speak on these accessibility matters, here is some background information about myself. My name is Lexie Dunham, and I have a rare form of muscular dystrophy called central-core myopathy/disease. This disease has been in my life for, well, since I have been alive, and is genetic (my mother, aunt, cousin, grandpa, and great-grandmother all have/had it). I have limited mobility. Although, much to many people’s shock and astonishment, I can walk. Walking long distances is just a slow and sometimes painful process, and stairs take quite a while for me to get up. Because of this, I have been using a mobility scooter to get to classes for my time at Andrews University. This means I have come face to face with many inaccessibilities on this campus.
I will be examining each main building that people in wheelchairs may have to deal with every day. This will be on a rating system. 1 star means very inaccessible, and 5 stars means very accessible.
Lamson Hall:
This is where I live. The residence hall staff have made many accommodations for me, and I am incredibly grateful. However, there are no automatic buttons on any of the doors, including the only ramp on the cafeteria side of the dorm. Luckily, my room is very close by, and I have been able to park and charge my scooter right near my room. Without a button, though, it can be quite awkward when I am carrying things. I do not believe Lamson Hall has a room that could accommodate someone who needs a wheelchair for everyday living. Overall, this is probably one of the most accessible buildings despite some challenges. The deans have been super sweet and helpful in everything I do.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Student Center:
Despite the elevator being a little sketchy and the fact that you can’t go to the basement without a key/someone to help you, this building has a nice ramp and an elevator in general. I had only had one issue when the elevator was broken for a few days, and getting meals was hard for me.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buller Hall:
I am thankful every day that this building is one of the more accessible buildings since this is where I go for all my classes as a psychology major. This elevator is one of the only elevators I trust, and the building has easy access. I do wish that the front doors had an automatic button to open the doors, but there is a visible alternative door that does have a button. This building is newer, so that accounts for how updated it is.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Nethery Hall:
I had classes here in my first year of college and had good and bad experiences. First, while there is a ramp at the front of the building, it is very awkward. I have an electric scooter, and I can’t imagine someone navigating the twists and turns of the ramp with a manual wheelchair. I know some individuals who do and have used wheelchairs on this ramp, and they also noted the awkwardness. The front door automatic button did not always work (rarely) to get in or out, and sometimes, the front door would be locked during class times. While other individuals can just choose another entrance, I did not have this option. This resulted in someone having to run around to the side entrance of the building to open the front doors for me. The front door is also hefty and can be difficult for someone with limited hand mobility. I was just made aware that there is another entrance somewhere, but navigating can be challenging if you don’t know that entrance exists.
Rating: 3 Stars
Harrigan Hall:
I had a class here for one semester, and let me tell you, what a journey! On my first day of class, I had no idea where to find the elevator. I found someone who showed me that the elevator was behind what seemed like a million doors (there were only two). You have to go from the hallways to the corridor to a small, hard-to-navigate area where the elevator is. Eventually, I did learn the best ways to navigate this elevator space, but it took a bit of trial and error. The elevator is also scary and outdated, and I was always nervous about my trip on the elevator.
Rating: 3 Stars
Science Complex:
This building and I are practically enemies. In my first semester of college, for the longest time, I had no idea there was an entrance in the back of the building. So, for the first month of school, I would park my scooter outside (rain or shine), walk up three flights of stairs, and try to make it to class on time. Then, I was shown that there was an elevator in the building. It was not right when you walked into the front doors (like you would expect). No! Of course not! I still had to walk up one flight of stairs to get to the elevator. Finally, I discovered that there was indeed an accessible entrance in the back of the building, enveloped with doors. Once, my sidewalk was blocked in the accessible entrance by a whole TREE that had fallen due to a storm. The elevator is the scariest one I have been in on this campus. One time, I rode the elevator in the dark because the lights flickered out, and throughout that whole year, I had two pet spiders in there named Freddie and Eddie. I am adding half a star just for Freddie and Eddie (Rest in peace, my spider friends).
Rating: 2.5 Stars
This is just a glimpse into some of my personal experiences with the buildings on this campus. While students, professors, and deans have been very helpful, the buildings need work. While nothing can be perfect, fixing some of these clear inaccessibilities that make the campus hard to navigate would be wonderful. I hope that navigating the campus through a disabled person’s eyes can help us see how we can improve our campus experience.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.