Today, I had the amazing opportunity to listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his hero, Richard Moore, who came to tell us his story of becoming blind and how he lives without anger about his impairment. Mr. Moore’s story inspired me to think about accessibility difficulties blind individuals face daily.
While I don’t know anyone on campus lacking sight, I began to think of how accessible my residence hall is to people living with blindness and other disabilities. In general, Turman Hall at Emory University is fairly accessible. The front entrance (pictured on the bottom left) has no steps which allows for people using wheelchairs to reach it easily. There are relatively few obstructions near the entrance, making it easier for visually impaired people.
However, unless someone is staying on the first floor, they need to use the elevator. The fastest route to the elevator is via the back entrance (pictured on the bottom right). This door also has no steps, and by using it one arrives directly at the elevator. A major difference between these two entrances is their visual appearances. The aesthetically pleasing front entrance has double doors, nice benches, an environmentally-friendly bike rack, and a sheltering awning. The rear door is not as picturesque with a random metal structure and bushes obscuring the single, plain door. The placement of this entrance in the back illustrates how disabled people seem to be given second priority when it comes to accessibility. While individuals with mobility issues are usually accommodated for, the accommodations are not always equal.
While I don’t know anyone on campus lacking sight, I began to think of how accessible my residence hall is to people living with blindness and other disabilities. In general, Turman Hall at Emory University is fairly accessible. The front entrance (pictured on the bottom left) has no steps which allows for people using wheelchairs to reach it easily. There are relatively few obstructions near the entrance, making it easier for visually impaired people.
However, unless someone is staying on the first floor, they need to use the elevator. The fastest route to the elevator is via the back entrance (pictured on the bottom right). This door also has no steps, and by using it one arrives directly at the elevator. A major difference between these two entrances is their visual appearances. The aesthetically pleasing front entrance has double doors, nice benches, an environmentally-friendly bike rack, and a sheltering awning. The rear door is not as picturesque with a random metal structure and bushes obscuring the single, plain door. The placement of this entrance in the back illustrates how disabled people seem to be given second priority when it comes to accessibility. While individuals with mobility issues are usually accommodated for, the accommodations are not always equal.
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