Equal Opportunities: A Case Study on Campus Transportation for Students with Mobility Impairments

Background

Henry is a sophomore with a disability that affects his health and mobility. He is taking evening classes at a community college.

Access Issue

Without a ride between buildings, Henry cannot arrive on time to classes and without pain, because of his health and mobility status. Without transportation, Henry cannot access classes that are not offered during daytime hours. The campus typically provides transportation only during office hours of disabled student services.

Solution

The disabled student services office worked with Henry and the campus security office to determine if they could provide evening transportation. This option was not considered satisfactory because, occasionally, campus security staff were unavailable because of their need to address public safety issues. The disabled student services office contracted with a local transportation company to provide evening transportation for Henry. Disabled student services staff also consulted with Henry about mobility assistance (e.g., cart or wheelchair) and encouraged him to inquire about possible financial assistance from his Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency.

Conclusions

This case study illustrates the following:

1. Reasonable accommodations must be provided to qualified students with disabilities so that they can access postsecondary courses.
2. Securing accessible transportation is a challenge for many students with mobility impairments and other disabilities.
3. If services for students with disabilities are available during regular business hours, plans should be made to address requests for these services after business hours.