Last Updated:9:47 PM EST 11/24/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Erica Henriksen The Cyber Café's high counter tops present physical barriers for students utilizing wheelchairs on campus.

Fisher has a diversity of students; most get around campus without difficulty. Commuters may complain about parking availability or residents might grumble at the distance they have to walk from dorms to the classroom, especially in the bitter Rochester weather.

However, many take for granted the fact that they're physically capable to carry out the actions of their simple day to day routine, because for some students, it's a routine with limitations. Some students have a physical disability and rely on a wheelchair for their mode of transportation.

A senior and campus resident, Stephanie Woodward is one of these students who is faced with obstacles on a daily basis. According to Woodward, her day on campus begins with "waiting forever for the doors to open" after pushing the handicapped button. "They take so long that I usually resort to kicking them open instead, " Woodward said.

She spends much of her time waiting for doors to open and waiting for elevators.

"If a button doesn't work or an elevator is out, things get difficult. Some doors don't even have an accessible button (like the one outside of the bookstore) which is really hard to work with," said Woodward.

Another thing that bothers Woodward about the physical barriers on campus is the coffee counter in the cyber cafe.
"I can never reach the sugar or straws or anything else while I am in my wheelchair."

Woodward described other challenges that make daily life more difficult: "When things don't work, like elevators and accessible buttons…and going from Basil or Skalny to the library is ridiculous because I have to go all the way around to get there because it is the only accessible route. I wish I could just cut across like everyone else."

Assistant professor of Sport Studies Todd Harrison said, "As a relatively young college, Fisher is considered to be very accessible by those confined to wheelchairs. ADA was passed in 1990 and older campuses were forced to retrofit original buildings to comply with the law."
"You see this on campus in Kearney Hall where you have the half-floor elevator and circuitous route to maneuver through the building," Harrison said.

Continued...

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