When “Accessible” Isn’t Enough

When many people think of the term “handicap accessible,” they think of certain requirements having to be met by buildings. The challenges that are still faced when it comes to those with physical disabilities actually accessing buildings are often overlooked.

Denise Walters, a former CSU graduate student, says that she used to think that the university went above and beyond when it came to accommodating the handicap community, until she severed a tendon in her foot and couldn’t get around like she used to. Before her injury, she had always presumed that there were too many handicap spots in the parking lots, because she always noticed them open. She quickly changed her mind after she had to use them.

“I had a hard time finding an open handicapped spot when I was using [my handicapped sticker] during the daytime. I would often have to park somewhere in A and crutch up to C Clark,” she says. “But then the elevator to get up to the other floor is at the north end of the building. It was less effort to hop up the stairs than it was to crutch down to the other end of the building.”

She noted, however, that not everyone has this option.

“I could choose to hop up the stairs, but to be in a wheelchair, or even have your hands not in use would be so hard.”

Like Denise felt before she was injured, Paula Beardslee, an undergraduate at CSU, says that she hasn’t noticed any real problems during her time at the university.

“I haven't really observed it being an issue, but that's probably because I'm not handicapped,” she says.

However, Kirsten Tunink, who has her master’s degree in education and was a teacher in special education for 13 years, says that shortcomings in accessibility requirements at schools are problems that the handicapped community should not have to deal with.

“When making a new building, they should be making it easier for people, not more difficult,” she says. “One thing I notice, even in newer buildings, is they have ways which make [buildings] acceptable, but they are still not easily accessible. They are taking into account more of the appearance rather than the need when they put these buildings into place.”

Joshua Prins, CSU alumnus, agrees.

“In Clark C, even though it has a handicapped accessible ramp leading into the building, many of the classrooms are not well suited for handicapped students. The classrooms are overcrowded with desks, making them difficult for handicapped students to navigate.”

Should CSU make more of an effort in making their buildings more easily accessible to the handicapped community? After her experience, Denise Walters thinks so.

“If you didn't have use of your hands, I can't imagine how hard it would be. I think they have a responsibility to make [buildings] more accessible.”