What can universities do?

1. Regularly check their elevators

on campus
2. For visual or auditory issues,
longer exam time can be
arranged
3. For auditory issues, a professor Students with
can give notes on PowerPoint
for students Disabilities
4. Students with visual issues, Providing them with resources on college campuses
should be able to voice record
and have notes put into brail
5. Assistive technology is
available like voice recognition
software, and ability switches
6. Make sure there are ramps into
buildings where they can
access all levels
7. Use Disability services to your
advantage
8. Make sure dormitories are
wheelchair accessible
9. Have accessible testing
locations How can college campuses
10. Offer extracurricular activities provide more for their
for those in wheelchairs students?

History
For years now, people with physically disabilities
have been attending universities of higher
education. Over the years more and more people
with physical disabilities have been attending
universities so in recent years it has been brought
to attention that many colleges were not
accessible for these students. In the 1970s
because of the section 504 Rehabilitation Act the
government mandated that all universities have
to remove all physical barriers from their
environments and implement plans made to
provide appropriate services and programs for
physically disabled students.
Best Colleges. (2017). A guide for college students with physical disabilities. Retrieved from: http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/college-planning-with-physical-disabilities/
Anytime I have an accessibility
problem, I go to them [Disability
Services Office] and they try their best
to fix the issue. Issues may include
broken elevators, bumpy sidewalks, or
inaccessible classrooms.
-Nicol Hernandez, URI 2019
Many colleges and universities have tried to make
an effort to accommodate the needs of students
with physical disabilities. These accommodations
have been incorporating ramps, and elevators in
buildings so they can get to their classes as
smoothly as possible.
Current Climate
A 2013 National Center for Education
Statistics report found that 2,563,000
students with disabilities were enrolled in
the 2011 to 2012 academic year,
accounting for 11.1% of all
undergraduates enrolled nationwide (Best
Colleges 2017). Between the years of
2011-2012, 88% of two-year and four-
year title IV degree granting
postsecondary institutions reported
enrolling students with disabilities (Best
Colleges 2017).
There is, of course, no one-size-fits-all
solution for students with disabilities.
There is a widespread of resources and
accommodations available to students
with special needs. The NCES report
shows that a large percentage of
institutions provide additional exam time,
classroom note-taking assistants, personal
attention from faculty, learning strategy
and study skill help, alternative exam
formats, and adaptive technology which
focus solely on students with learning
disabilities (Best Colleges 2017).
Colleges are required to make
accommodations for students with
disabilities but not all campuses and
buildings are suited for special
accessibility for those with physical
disabilities.