story by Rebecca Pullen - multimedia by Jessica Hinthorn
and Trent Taylor - photos by Kathy Penrith - graphics by Aaron Thesing
“Give me a fish and I eat today. Teach me to fish, and I eat for a lifetime,” is the mindset of the Disabled Student Development and director Larry Markle takes that statement to heart. Markle says that Ball State ’s campus is welcoming to those with disabilities. “Ball State historically has been the college that if you’re in Indiana … and you’ve got a severe disability and you want to go to college, this is the place you’re likely to go,” Markle says.
As of October 1, 2005 there were 486 reported students with some kind of disability. Markle says the biggest form of disabilities on campus is learning disabilities, but Ball State tries to accommodate those with physical disabilities as well. “Right now there are over 30 wheel chair users on campus,” Markle says.
Generally campus has around 40 students with some kind of mobile impairment, and between 25 and 35 students with visual impairments.
Disabled Students In Action is a student group on campus for students with disabilities. Junior Brandon Gore serves as president of the group. Gore is in a wheelchair due to deteriorating hip and knees. He says he knows people who have transferred to Ball State because of accessibility issues at their schools. “The buildings on campus are pretty easy to get into,” Gore says. “With all the colleges I visited, [ Ball State] was very accessible,” he says. “The only one that I visited that was better was Notre Dame, because when I went there they said that each disabled student got a golf cart to drive around.”
Senior Brian Pigford is the vice president of Disabled Students In Action and is in a group called Wheelchair Revolution. Pigford is in a wheelchair after being hit by a car while on his moped. He says the accessibility factor was a big reason why he decided to come to Ball State. He also thinks the accessibility of the campus shows respect for those students who are disabled. “Because the buildings are very accessible, it’s a form of respect,” Pigford says. He adds that accessibility was a factor in his choice to come here as well as Gore.
So what makes Ball State attractive to those with disabilities? Markle says that the school offers things that most other schools do not. Ball State offers audio signals on traffic lights, meetings to explain services available to those with disabilities, an adaptive technology lab in the Robert Bell building and a second shuttle system for students who are eligible.
Markle reminds students are not accepted to Ball State due to their disability, so everyone is qualified to be here. He also suggests meeting those with disabilities around you and getting to know them. “We are reluctant to talk to someone because they’re different,” Markle says, “but people with disabilities are people too.” He also suggests helping those with disabilities, if you feel comfortable. “Don’t assume they need help just because they’re disabled, but treat those with disabilities as equals.”
