Yale Bulletin and Calendar

May 3, 2002

Volume 30, Number 28

New website offers information on
wheelchair access to campus facilities

Yale junior Scott Kirschenbaum spent a good part of last summer checking out the bathrooms in University buildings.

His purpose was to discover which ones are wheelchair-accessible as part of an overall project being undertaken by the Provost's Advisory Committee on Resources for Students and Employees with Disabilities -- in conjunction with Yale's Resource Office on Disabilities -- to make information about campus accessibility available via the Internet.

Working as an employee of the Resource Office on Disabilities, Kirschenbaum's ongoing task involves making eventual stops at all of Yale's more than 200 buildings to ascertain whether (and how) wheelchair users can enter them, as well as to note whether they have accessible restrooms.

His labor has resulted in a recently launched web-based "Access Map" which eventually will provide accessibility information on all Yale buildings and athletic fields.

"The site is still under construction, as we are continuing to add specific information," says Judy York, coordinator of the Resource Office on Disabilities. "Our goal is to have it complete by Commencement, when we generally have a fair number of campus guests who need information about accessibility."

Using the Access Map, students and campus guests can simply click on any University building or facility. A pop-up text box appears indicating how wheelchair users can gain access to the building. Where applicable, it also describes how to reach wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

Designed by Yale's Reprographics and Imaging Services, the map will eventually be updated to include accessibility information about the buildings' classrooms, meeting rooms and other spaces.

York notes that Yale buildings have become increasingly accessible to students with disabilities.

"With each of the University's residential college renovations, access for wheelchair use is routinely incorporated," she says. "The concerns are not only for the living spaces to be accessible, but common spaces as well." Berkeley College was the first college to become accessible, and it now has automated doors that can be opened via a hand-held device. Senior Mattan Koch, who lives in Berkeley, has been utilizing this new remote door-opener for the past two years. (See related story)

Other campus buildings that have recently been updated to provide greater access are 451 College St., which is now equipped with an automatic door-opener and has handicapped accessible restrooms, and the soon-to-be-completed renovations at 1 Hillhouse Ave. and 370 Temple St., which will have accessible offices, study areas and classrooms.

Koch, a member of Yale Students for Disability Awareness, says he has witnessed changes on campus that have made his life easier since he first arrived four years ago.

"Each year, progress has been made," he says.

Born with a disability that severely limits his use of his arms and legs, Koch has always taken a keen interest in campus renovations involving accessibility. Because he can offer a unique perspective about how life can be made easier for students with similar disabilities, he has also been consulted on most.

"There have been few -- if any -- students with a disability as severe as mine to come through Yale," he explains. "In fact, you don't see many people like me in higher education at all. So I've had input on almost every change. It's all part of a growing process, and it's one which I'm sure will continue."

The new Access Map can be found at www.yale.edu/rod/accessmap. For further information, contact the Resource Office on Disabilities at (203) 432-2324.

-- By Susan Gonzalez

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