5 replies to this topic

[KayDub]

So today was my first day on campus for law school and my first time around a college campus since getting sick. I had bouts of injury that led to some of my original nerve damage when I was first in undergrad and had to navigate Brown University in Providence with crutches. (side note: I would not recommend that school for anyone with a disability in a heartbeat. The city and campus are very accessible and the teaching staff I had, including a Deaf man, were very unaccommodating. Just a heads up)

Anyway I think things went fairly well. All my classes are in the law building which also happens to the closest academic building to the light rail station. I just have to cross the athletic complex, which was somewhat difficult in the heat, but it was flat and doable. The law building is very accessible, with push button doors, wide ADA restrooms, ADA study rooms and good elevators. The biggest problem is the ramp into the building. Yeah it's accessible but jesus it's a double ramp that's somewhat steep and even me with full arm strength struggled to get up! I'll try to avoid going in and out of the building as much as possible.

The staff was great too. I meat the student adviser for the Law School and she was very helpful. She's already promised to get my lectures from the first week videotaped because I have a spinal surgery scheduled. I also talked with the DSS (disability student services) coordinator for the entire school. She was wonderful too. She said she could help arrange a shuttle van from the light rail to my class building when the weather starts to get bad.

The only thing I'm concerned about it total accesibility. Most people go off campus into the city to study, eat, etc. I should be able to but my old bulky chair is making it really hard. I'm waiting for my doctor to call me back about a prescription for a new lighter more mobile chair and then of course instructions on where to get it (because I can't find a place near me and I'm in Denver area right now).

So first day of college, success! A few challenging ramps and a bit hard to maneuver from the light rail line to class (the cheapest ADA parking is $300 and it's no where close to my building, looks like I'm taking the train). The almost 100 degree heat didn't help either, especially since I carry a sweatshirt from inside because I can't regulate my body temperature at all, it sucks. But honestly I can't complain. Everyone is really nice and helpful (even got a pusher on one of the steep ramp parts that goes from the main student center down to the bookstore and up... oi). Once I can get my new chair I should be golden!

(And tips on chairs for a girl who's very tall when standing 6' 3" and about 135-140 lbs with good upper body strength would be appreciated!)

I'll probably update more about my law school experience in my chair as things come up. Right now there's nothing special about it, just the giant ramps.

[ZEN12many]

Congratulations on your first day at college in your chair. Sounded like it went better than some of my first days at college when I was AB. I am proud of you - a big step.

[Soryfam]

Wow, such an adventure! Congrats on facing the challenge and being successful. Hope the new chair materializes soon.

Sandy

[KayDub]

Thanks guys!!! Getting a new chair is the first thing that's gotten me excited in what seems like forever. It took ages to get the script from my doctor and even longer to find a mobility company that works with my insurance (Tricare- military insurance) that doesn't only carry standard "old folk" chairs as I call them, the big heavy ones with black pushers on the side that you pick up your nana from the hospital in. (No offense if anyone uses one, just at 23 I can't keep wheeling myself around at the pace I want with that! It's what I came home from hospital with) I finally found a company in Denver that does more specialized chairs and left a message with my area rep because she was out of the office today. Hopefully she'll get back to my first thing in the morning so we can get my chair set up rolling! No pun intended. Ahhhhh so impatient.

[scaldedcat]

Congratulations, your confidence and determination are inspirational. You will no doubt be successful in your degree and career. Well done!

[Tetracyclone]

Kaydub,
Urge you to get an ultralite. Study the Spinlife website offerings so you know what is out there. I got my insurance to pay for one off the web because to was 45% less than the same chair from a local "approved provider".