According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 1 in 4 adults living in the United States live with some sort of disability. There are different categories of functional disabilities in which people may experience challenges in mobility, cognition, independent living, hearing, vision, or self-care. Some of these may be visible, while others live with disabilities that others may not easily notice. Either way, the statistics reveal a significant percentage of individuals experience disability, which means that there is a high likelihood that, at any time, there are individuals on campus who live with disabilities.
According to UNICEF, the social model of disability explains that disabilities are not caused by an impairment, but by societal structures that produce barriers to those who live with a difference. When these barriers are removed, individuals with disabilities are able to live independently in society. So, what is Andrews University doing to reduce these barriers? When it comes to physical disabilities that make moving around campus difficult, some options make accessing campus resources easier. While they may not be easy to find, there are many buildings that have some form of an accessible entrance, especially in newer buildings.
With that in mind, let’s dive into some of the set routes intended to make buildings more accessible to those with physical disabilities
James White Library
A librarian from the James White Library, Katharine Van Arsdale, messaged the Student Movement with information about the library's accessible entrance. There is a ramp on the north side of the building (facing the Administration building’s parking lot) that leads to an automatic door. Upon entering through this door, individuals will find themselves in an entryway that contains an elevator, providing access to all floors of the building. However, those who need the use of this door should be aware that they will first need to call the front desk at 269-471-3158 and request that it be unlocked, as typically, it does not serve as a public entrance. This means that people attempting to use this entrance will be limited if no one is manning the front desk. Those seeking to use the accessible entrance must also have a cell phone handy, as there is no way to contact the front desk from the side door. From inside the library, the door can be used as an exit without assistance.
Science Complex
There are only two public-use doors to the science complex that open onto a floor and not a stairwell. They are both located on the back side of the building when approaching the building from East Campus Circle Drive. One is located between Halenz Hall and Price Hall. The other is in the back corner of Price Hall and leads to the bottom of that stairwell, and the sidewalk leading to this entrance has some dips of broken concrete that may make it a bit more difficult to navigate with a wheelchair than the other entrance. Those using these entrances should also note there are no automatic doors, and reaching the elevator - which is located between Price Hall and Haughey Hall - will require passing through at least two more non-automatic doors. The elevator goes to all floors, including the fourth floor, where the greenhouse is located. However, this is the only elevator in the building, which means that once users reach the appropriate floor, they may have to pass through several non-automatic doors again to reach their destination if it is located in Halenz Hall. The elevator can also be difficult to find if you are unfamiliar with the building because there isn’t clear signage demarcating its location. Additionally, there is a sign stating that the elevator is intended to be a freight elevator, so it is not intended for public use. Also, the biology and chemistry amphitheaters have stairs to access the seating area. However, the math amphitheater does open onto flat ground, so climbing stairs is unnecessary to sit in the back. Another thing to be aware of is that none of the bathrooms in this building have wide stalls or grab bars.
Nethery
Nethery Hall also has two accessible entrances. Both of these entrances feature fully functioning, automatic doors. The first one is on the back side of Nethery (the side facing Bell Hall) towards the south end. A ramp leads down to this entrance, which leads to the lowest floor of Nethery Hall. The social work department, located on the same floor, conveniently also has automatic doors. The other accessible entrance is located in the middle of the front side of Nethery. A ramp leads to the door so that those using devices to assist mobility may bypass the stairs. However, this ramp is narrow and can be difficult to navigate. Also, due to the position of the ramp and the front steps, actually getting into the building is challenging. Nethery Hall also has an elevator that is clearly marked with visible signage that juts out from the wall so you can spot it from down the hall.
Buller Hall
Buller Hall is probably one of the most accessible buildings on campus. All of the main entrances open directly onto the ground floor. There is also an elevator toward the center of the building, and there are bathrooms that feature wide stalls with a grab bar.
Campus Center
The Campus Center has a ramp on the south side, which faces Lamson. This entrance also has automatic doors. It is the only Campus Center entryway that does not require steps to reach it. When entering this way, down the hall a little ways on the left is the elevator, providing access to all building floors.
Lamson Hall
Lamson Hall has two doors that do not require steps to reach them from the outside. One of these is the front lobby door, which faces the Lamson parking lot. However, there are steps to reach the rest of the dorm from this area. If students or other individuals need access to more than the front lobby, the best option is to use the north side entrance, which faces the cafeteria. This is the only entrance that has a ramp (aside from another long, visibly unkempt ramp that goes to the basement, but I have never seen anyone use it, and it doesn’t seem to be for resident’s usage), and there are some cracks in the concrete that wheels could get stuck in. The dorms also require an Andrews ID to open at all times and have no automatic doors, which is something those facing mobility challenges need to keep in mind.
Hopefully, after reading this article you have a greater knowledge of accessible options for those with mobility disabilities on campus should you or someone you know need routes that increase ease of access. It should be noted that these routes were compiled in consultation with different individuals, and the author’s personal exploration on campus. After one week of reaching out to various entities on campus, I have not yet found anyone who has an official list of accessibility information. If the SM staff discovers there is an official list somewhere, we will include instructions to obtain that information in a future article.
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.