Kutztown University: An Accessible Campus

Thinking about college?

This is a piece I wrote for a class at Kutztown University. Some of it is very KU-focused, but any high school student transitioning to college can read this to get an understanding of the challenges they will face and how to handle them upon entering college. Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Thanks.



As an incoming freshman, college can be extremely intimidating. Finding classes, dorm rooms, places to eat, even the bathroom, can be difficult. But imagine this process and its challenges heightened to a brand new level. Imagine being unable to use the stairs at leisure: imagine being physically handicapped. What about being unable to see anything on campus? Imagine the inability to write and record notes? Walking slower than others and worrying about getting to class on time can also be quite stressful. These are all concerns that any disabled, or even able-person, may have. Unfortunately for the students, there is no handbook to assist them through this rigorous transition. However, while utilizing its resources, there are ways one can maneuver around Kutztown University that provides a comfortable and enjoyable collegiate experience.

By law, universities like Kutztown must accommodate any student with a documented physical, mental, or emotional disability, due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Office of Human Diversity was formed at KU to adhere to these acts and requirements. Located in the Stratton Administration Building (rm. 215), this office provides accommodation services to students and faculty members of Kutztown University. Upon entering Kutztown, the student should meet with an affiliate of the office to have their disability known and discussed in order to receive the best accommodations possible while at KU. Human Diversity asks that the student meets four weeks prior to the start of the semester in order to ensure that all students requiring accommodations will receive them.

The Office of Human Diversity asks help from the students themselves as well. In receiving accommodations, the student must take control of his/her own future. Thus, they should be the ones to contact the office, explain their disability (when possible), and provide possible suggestions of accommodation(s) that would best suit them (given they probably know their disability better than the office). The main point here: be responsible. The services offered are attempting to teach students with disabilities how to manage their own lives by communication with their professors, the Human Diversity Office, and other contacts they may consider during their stay at Kutztown University. The student taking responsibility and speaking up will help others help them.

There are a few handicap accessible spots around campus that any physically disabled student would find useful. Ramps can be found outside of every academic building, and wheelchair accessible water fountains are maintained throughout these buildings as well. Almost every building on campus has a button to open automatic doors, although check before classes start or before move-in. The residence hall University Place

has automatic doors, but they do not work. Beware of older buildings like UP as they are harder to depend on. Also, Kutztown University has lots of elevators. To find an elevator, it is best to ask someone in the building or go to the Stratton Administration Building for information.

A very well-used, handicap-friendly service that Kutztown provides is its shuttle bus. The shuttle bus is a service open to all students of Kutztown University. Many students use this means of transportation to get from one side of campus to the other. Due to its high success rate, the bus schedule has recently added more stops to its on-campus route, making it even more handicap-friendly for mobility impaired students to get to class, thus eliminating lots of time-consuming walking from the South side of campus. The shuttle also helps students transport downtown to places such as Rite Aid, Weis Market, and Whiteoak Street.
The shuttle has a few different routes, on-campus and off-campus, evening and late night, during the times scheduled on the Kutztown University website at www.kutztown.edu.

Most prominently, Kutztown University provides services/equipment to help the blind, dyslexic, speech or hearing impaired, and people who require alternative testing methods. For the blind and dyslexic, books are available on tape through the Rohrbach Library which also obtains machines that are able to print material with extra large print and voice recorded articles, books, etc. A TTY (teletype) resides in the library for students with limited or no hearing abilities. A Braille printer is located in Beekey Education Building for blind students. As for alternative test takers, each case is different and should be discussed with an affiliate in the Office of Human Diversity.

Ramps, elevators, the shuttle bus, resources found in the library and any other accommodation(s) or accommodating materials are available to any student with a documented disability. Most of this information is distributed by the Office of Human Diversity after meeting with an associate to further discuss the specific disability and its “reasonable accommodations.” To attain a safe and enjoyable collegiate experience, ask questions and be confident in order to obtain the best possible accommodations on or off campus.