Able-bodied people often don’t notice the impact of design in their everyday life, though limited mobility can clearly impact how a student experiences campus life. The Office of Disability Services works with students and parents to advocate on students’ behalf for facility changes around campus. The Stute spoke to Liam Rust, a sophomore computer science major who uses a wheelchair, to discuss his experience with accessibility at Stevens.
Rust reports that Stevens is altogether accessible, with every academic building having elevators and campus being easily navigable, although older buildings built before design standards and guidelines set in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the ‘90s and 2010s are more difficult. Walker Gymnasium, and dorm buildings Palmer and Humphreys, are completely inaccessible, with Castle Point Hall being inaccessible except for the main floor. The UCC Residential Towers—the newest buildings on campus—are an improvement, though not perfect, with multiple elevators in main access points and options for ADA-compliant features in kitchenettes, as well as living areas.
Rust also comments that the pedestrian-friendly Hoboken is “a breath of fresh air to be able to get pretty much anywhere I’d like by just my chair, or the light rail. I am not able to drive a car, so coming from suburbia, where you need a car to get most places of interest, Hoboken is much more accessible.” Off-campus is much more varied than on-campus, with many entrances having steps to their doors “which is not a fun discovery to make when you want to go somewhere with your friends and you find out you can’t join them.” This includes Frat Row, which is almost completely inaccessible. Rust, active in the a cappella group Floctaves and Stevens Linux User Group (SLUG), remarks that inaccessible Greek Life “doesn’t really affect me personally […] but it still does kind of suck knowing that I don’t even have [the] possibility of doing anything if I, or another person who was disabled, wanted to.”
As an innovation university, universal design should be of interest to all engineers. These are practices that benefit every user and don’t cause extra hassle for those who are requesting the accommodations. Buildings like EAS and Burchard are wheelchair accessible, though back entrances and wheelchair lift platforms leave something to be desired. Rust comments on universal design, saying, “Instead of special accessible back or side entrances, or having someone bring out a ramp when needed, a universally designed entrance would have the main entrance be accessible to all by default. This really makes a difference, because while the former might technically be accessible, it doesn’t really feel inclusive. You’re singled out.” This is also important to consider because bulky designs like winding ramps end up taking more space than a single, universally designed option. Even when an accessible design is considered, the placement of door openers and elevator button design can still be a limiting factor.
Another taxing aspect of disability is advocating for yourself, which Rust says “can be scary having to make your needs known, and asserting them if they’re pushed back against. I know how that feels, and, honestly, it can get tiring. But, it’s important to remember that you aren’t asking for anything special. You’re just asking for what you need, as a person. No ‘special’ about it. Just human needs. And it’s alright to make that known, and to fight for them.” When he encounters issues on campus, Rust contacts the Office of Disability Services, which is often able to quickly solve the problem. He noticed issues in Carnegie and Morton with a lack of door openers and elevator doors that closed quickly and found by the next week the recommended design changes had been implemented. Rust is well acquainted with ODS and recommends anyone in search of accommodations, “even if you don’t know what exactly you need, just talk to them!” They can be contacted via email (disabilityservices@stevens.edu) and by phone at 201-216-3748.
While Stevens is working to be a more accommodating campus, Phillip Gehman, Director of ODS, also hosts events to educate the community on effective ally behaviors that challenge ableism by providing insight into the perspectives of people living with a disability. On March 29, 2023, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., a student panel will gather in the UCC Gallery to discuss this topic. In April, ODS is honoring Autism Acceptance month by hosting Dr. Kelly Magro, a professional speaker, best-selling author, and autism entertainment consultant, who will speak to the Stevens community about his experiences growing up with autism. This event will take place on April 5 in Gateway 122 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Keep an eye out for ODS’s events and opportunities to learn more about the disability community and the importance of accessibility.
