I don't need sympathy, I just need accessibility
The impact of accessibility in creating welcoming environments for wheelchair users on campus.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17411/jacces.v16i1.657Abstract
Students with disabilities are attending college in increasing numbers (Pavan & Shore, 2015). This includes students who use wheelchairs on campus (Hoover, 2022). Students' experiences with wheelchair accessibility vary greatly and accessibility can be experienced as an afterthought. The physical environment of campus impacts a student’s ability to learn and communicates inherent messages of belonging (Strange & Banning, 2001). Strange and Banning’s (2001) hierarchy of learning environments frames the movement from a safe and inclusive campus to one in which all members are part of the community. Using this framework and a qualitative content analysis methodology, this research project explores the features of campus that help to create welcoming and unwelcoming experiences for students who use wheelchairs. The findings include the importance of working accessibility features in creating a welcoming environment and a desire for campus leaders to consider the needs of all students.
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