HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY

MDA QUEST MEDIA

When choosing a college, a student with a disability should consider access to specialized care.

If you’re moving away from home, you’ll probably need to build a new team of physicians, physical therapists, and other specialists.

An isolated college campus, or one far from a neuromuscular care center, may not have appropriate providers nearby.

Most colleges have a disability services office (sometimes called an accessibility, access, or ADA office) to ensure access for students with disabilities in compliance with federal law.

Some offices go beyond compliance to serve as advocates for their students and promote inclusive campus life.

 

 

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY

MDA QUEST MEDIA

It’s important for college students with disabilities to think about transportation on and off campus.

Connor Stager is studying economics and genetics at the University of Georgia.

He lives with distal arthrogryposis, which impairs the senses of touch and proprioception (the sense of the body’s movement and position) and affects his walking.

“When I met with the University of Georgia, they told me about the networks and systems in place, including the paratransit system,” he says.

The campus has a paratransit system linking all the buildings, and the Athens-Clarke County public transit system has accessible buses that allow him to travel off campus.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

THROUGH UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND INCLUSIVE MOBILITY

For more than three decades – as a journalist, planner, marketer, educator and activist – I have worked to make the built environment a better place.

The key has been Universal Design – making sidewalks, transit, healthcare, education, arts, job centers and housing accessible to all people of all ages, abilities and incomes.

It was a pleasure to share some of my thoughts on Universal Design and Inclusive Mobility in civic space, while on the inaugural DDA block walk this week.

I was privileged to be on the first block walk led by Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, chair of the Miami Downtown Development Authority.

An expert planner, Rosado also serves my District 4 City of Miami Commissioner.

The walking tour included diverse chats about walkability/urban vibrancy. Honored to chime in about Universal Design and ADA issues.

Thanks to Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo – whose district covers much of the Central Business District, Brickell and Performing arts areas in the city core -- for graciously listening to my ideas for enhanced access for people with disabilities.

I emphasized that the sidewalk should be maintained during all construction.

Miami currently allows developers to close sidewalks for years of construction.

For a single round trip, a pedestrian or wheelchair user must cross dangerous traffic 4 times.

DDA and other leaders understood this must stop.

Most cities require scaffolding to keep sidewalks safe and open during development taking place along them.

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY

MDA QUEST MEDIA

Annie Tulkin, MS, CEO and Founder of Accessible College, LLC., notes that several factors contribute to campus accessibility beyond accessible buildings.

For example, consider geography and climate.

A college that feels comfortable during a typical spring or summer visit could be harder to navigate in winter, with snow or ice.

A hilly or spread-out campus will take more energy to get around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY

MDA QUEST MEDIA

Annie Tulkin, MS, CEO and Founder of Accessible College, LLC., notes that under the ADA, colleges are not required to provide personal care services as an accommodation, so it’s up to students to hire their own personal care attendants (PCAs) for daily living tasks.

Typically, schools will allow a PCA to share a student’s room at no additional charge.

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY

MDA QUEST MEDIA

“Any college that receives federal funding has to be ADA compliant, but what that looks and feels like can be different from place to place,” says Annie Tulkin, MS, CEO and Founder of Accessible College, LLC.

She advises students with disabilities to search for the right academic fit while also balancing the college’s built environment and dedication to being inclusive.

Historic buildings are not exempt from the ADA, but they may have alternative accessibility requirements.

The ADA requires colleges to reduce barriers for students with disabilities and provide reasonable accommodations to ensure they can access the classroom.

In some cases, this may mean moving the class to a more accessible building.

 

 

HOW TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE WITH A DISABILITY

MDA QUEST MEDIA

“Investigate the attitude of the accessibility office — if they don’t get it, they are not going to fight for you, and it will be harder to advocate for yourself,” says Abby Dreyer, a sophomore at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Along with the basics of finding a good college match — location, affordability, size, academic and cultural fit — students with disabilities must do some extra digging.