Campus is friendlier to wheelchairs than it used to be, but winter is tough

By Holly Adams

December 12, 2005 | LOGAN -- Getting around in a wheelchair can be difficult at times, depending on how accessible the area is. Utah State University campus has become progressively more accessible to those in wheelchairs as the need has grown.

Winter is here and campus is covered in snow, which can make things a lot more difficult for wheelchair users.

Craig Hirschi, a senior in broadcast journalism who uses a wheelchair, said, "For the most part [campus] is pretty accessible. Except when it snows, they don't shovel the walks very well. That's the hardest thing I deal with. I don't have any problems unless it snows.

"I think as a whole the university does a pretty good job of keeping everything accessible and up to date. I know they do work on it. If I have a class on the other side of campus they could move it," he said.

Although students in wheelchairs have physical handicaps that challenge them, they have the same challenges in the classroom as any other student. Hirschi said his wheelchair doesn't make him any different from any other student.

"Teachers just see me as a student. In normal life people see me differently -- like I need special treatment -- but I just want to be treated the same as anyone else," Hirschi said, "In every class we all have the same challenges academic-wise."

Hirschi isn't completely confined to his chair like most wheelchair users. He can drive to school with the hand controlled gas and brake pedals that were installed under the blinker in his car. When getting in his car he takes the wheels off his wheelchair, folds the back down, leans back in the seat and throws it all in the backseat.

"It's a lot quicker to drive," he said.

Hirschi sits in a desk in every class. "I take my own notes and fall asleep in class just like everyone else," Hirschi said, "A lot of people think I can't do everything everyone else can. I go to basketball games and work at the bookstore. I think I can do anything anyone else can do."

Hirschi said people should be courteous to those in wheelchairs.

"Ask if there is anything you can do, but don't be mad if I say no. I like to do things on my own. You never know when I will need help though," Hirschi said.

"Look at the person inside -- treat everyone like you want to be treated. Don't look at the wheelchair -- look at me, look at my eyes -- see who I really am," Hirschi said.

Many people are afraid to ask questions about people with disabilities.

"If you have questions ask. People are always afraid to ask questions. I'm totally upfront about everything if people ask. It educates people and gets them to understand what is going on. It can be a really good thing," Hirschi said.

One resource for students on campus is the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Students with disabilities can go there for any help that they may need.

Diane Baum, director of the DRC said they can help students accommodate if they have a class in an inaccessible building or have large distances between their classes. She said the Military Science and Lund buildings will never be accessible.

"If they can't get there fast enough we can move the class," Baum said.

One change USU, as well as Logan City, has made over the past few years is adding a bus system. All of the buses are wheelchair accessible.

"We haven't always had a bus system -- that was a problem when I first started working here," Baum said, "Now students can live where they want and ride the bus."

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