Accessible Campus (2011 Strategic Plan)

Increase access and navigability by paving sidewalks, repairing existing sidewalks and outdoor stairs, and producing a campus map that indicates accessible paths of travel, entries, and parking. Systematically revise and expand signage to assist people with disabilities to find facilities they need and help them navigate the campus better, conveying a welcoming message that the College is aware of and attends to the needs of accessibility.

Comments
Please include your thoughts on the importance of the initiative, how to frame the issue, things that may be missing, and any additional comments here (you can do so by logging into Hampedia and clicking edit):


 * It is absurd to have identity-based centers that are not accessible. The QCA has a ramp outside of the donut but requires climbing stairs in order to access the space. The Spiritual Life Center is in the same situation but is actually worse as it doesn't even have RUNNING WATER.
 * I agree that identity-based centers should be accessible to ALL students. Gaines Blasdel F10
 * I gained a whole new awareness of accessibility issues when I injured my knee. For example, if you want to the get to The Bridge, you first need to realize that it IS possible to use the elevator behind the Hampstore, and then go through the Airport lounge and across the walkway. Elevators are often difficult to find and slow. And, of course, if you want to get to the upper floors of Dakin or Merrill, well... Devin Morse
 * Accessibility does not simply mean access to physical spaces (although that is definitely important). This section does not at all address issues such as learning differences and mental health issues. There is extremely minimal support for these kinds of concerns at Hampshire, which bars students from participating in facets of Hampshire life and definitely does not send a message of awareness of and attentiveness to student needs. I would really apprectiate it if this section could be revised to acknolwedge these other facets of accessibility. Claire Oberholtzer, student F07
 * I'm frankly surprised that Hampshire is as inaccessible as it is. It's pretty ridiculous, especially with the campus's design... eccentricities like widened bathroom stalls that are ostensibly for wheelchair access on the third floor of stairs-only Dakin and its unmaintained equipment like the automatic doors in the dorm kitchens/living rooms that don't seem to work very often. Greg Larsen
 * The current level of accessibility on our campus is terrible; it is shameful the a College with a mission to increase access to education can not even provide basic measures of physical accessibility. It should be a top priority to direct funds towards increasing accessibility to physical spaces, as are outlined in this initiative, only to a greater extent. As Claire commented however, accessibility does not just mean access to physical spaces. A comprehensive plan needs to be developed to provided more services for students with learning differences and mental health issues. The issues surrounding these types of accessibility are rarely mentioned and almost never addressed. Professors need more training to understand accessibility for students with learning differences or mental health issues. When ever a change is made on campus the ramifications of the change on accessibility should be taken into account (i.e. removing the trays from the Dining Commons, which posed challenges to students with fine motor and coordination differences). This initiative is one of the most important in the plan, and should be expanded to include increased services and awareness of learning differences and mental health issues. Sarah Gordon, student F09
 * I too am a bit surprised to find accessibility mentioned in this draft in a very limited way, once in a comment on not meeting federal standards on accessible housing units, and the rest swept under the infinitely expandable and over-taxed category of "deferred maintenance." My understanding is that "all programs and services" need to be accessible and institutions not incompliance with that standard are usually given about three years to come into compliance. I would think that Student Affairs, CASA, QCA, Spiritual Life Ctr come under that rubric as well as issues such as no accessible bathrooms in the library.  Five Colleges Inc recently (this spring) hired Jane Jarrow a nationally recognized expert in disabilities services on the post-secondary level.  Architectural barriers on this campus was a major concern noted by Ms Jarrow.  So a few suggestions: (1) Five Colleges is in the process of identifying a compliance officer who will among other tasks, check into or oversee ADA compliance.  It would be good if you had a discussion with that individiual when formally appointed. (2) This goes with, I think, your next steps after reviewiing comments t o the draft::  Get some clarity and consensus on (a) what we are obligated to do legally--and to determine that I would caution against relying on one source (b) what we aren't mandated to do but ought to in terms of the college's presentation to the public--addressing the "segregated" entry to the library is in this category (c) develop a time line, a commitment and a budget.  I would like to see some open discussion as to whether accessibility regarding eliminating architectural barriers deserves a separate line item in the budget.  What I have observed is that folding everything into "deferred maintenance" puts undue stress on the facilities directors to satisfy a very wide range of competing demands with a limited amount of funding. My thanks to all of you on the strategic plan committee for devoting your time and energy and patience to what must be at times a daunting project.  Joel Dansky, Disabilities Services
 * Joel's points are absolutely crucial. He has done an admirable job of trying to make the campus accessible in all meanings of the word with extremely limited resources. Yet when his position was created (while I was dean of advising), we had to scour the campus to find an accessible office for him because CASA is inaccessible for those with physical disabilities. Same with Student Affairs, and numerous other essential offices. This initiative must include more than paving sidewalks. Sue Darlington (CSI).
 * Can we add more about mental health and learning disabilities? These can be daunting and it'd be helpful for faculty and staff to have more knowledge and skill on how to work with students grappling with these.  Carin Rank