Getting Around

By: Nolan Stout

           
HPU offers many services to injured, disabled
            Although the campus is beautiful, there are many obstacles to those with disabilities traveling around it.

           While suffering an injury or having a physical disability may seem like a burden at High Point University, there are many services provided to help those who need it.

            For those who do not have a handicap placard or a car to drive from off campus or between classes, the university offers a free transportation van. However, there is only one van that operates on campus, which causes some scheduling conflicts among those wishing to ride.

            Many of the aid that the university gives is based on each person’s specific needs and what they request.

            “We work with each student individually to accommodate their needs,” said Rita Sullivant, who works in the university’s disability services office.

            Sullivant said that they split the students based on last name and she only takes care of five students with physical disabilities. According to Sullivant, there are 10-15 students on campus that work with her department. 

Living accommodations and classes

           Those with disabilities are usually given special living accommodations if they request them. 
            Students with wheelchairs are usually given a room on the first floor if they request it. Sullivant said the university makes sure to put students in buildings with elevators or rooms that accommodate wheelchairs.

           Sometimes for classes, the office will manipulate classroom placement if it is difficult to access.

            “Congdon has some of those narrow hallways and aisles in the room,” said Sullivant. “So if there is a problem with wheelchair access we just work with the registrar changing the classrooms in those situations. Most of our new buildings are pretty accessible.” 

Problems
             One of the problems the university has for those that may be injured is that dorms do not have a handicap access button that opens the door automatically. Sullivant said that students can register at the beginning of the year for a key fob that will open the door for them. However, those with injuries or temporary handicaps are not normally given these devices.

            Another problem is that the handicap access ramps for many buildings tend to be behind the building or in a more difficult place to reach. This makes it harder for those with disabilities or injuries to reach them because they must travel further.

            Many ramps may be placed behind buildings to accommodate for the regulations required of them. The state of North Carolina requires that a slope have a maximum 1:12 ratio and the maximum height is 30 inches.

            This slope requirement causes some buildings to have multiple ramps to get to one door.

Send in people trained in carrying someone in a wheelchair if there is a fire or emergency.

            Those with disabilities are generally given as much aid as they need or the university can give them. Sullivant said that they do their best to notify people in charge of those with disabilities in case an emergency happens.

            “We notify security at the beginning of the year of anyone that may have problems with physical disabilities,” said Sullivant.

            For those that have temporary disabilities due to injuries, campus may seem very hard to navigate. However, the offices of disability services and transportation work well together to accommodate everyone’s need.

            “For people that have suffered injuries and are disabled for a short period of time it may seem hard to find help because they are unfamiliar with the services,” said Sullivant.