Dialogue around accessibility continues to be viewed as an afterthought in our society. It has not been an avid part of societal consciousness. This is despite the fact that “One billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience some form of disability”. (The World Bank) Some form of disability affects a large number of people, but their experiences and needs are invalidated and looked over. Even on our campus, disability awareness is important. At Hill, we coexist with myriad people of varying backgrounds and lived experiences. But within our community, outward attention and awareness to accessibility is not always evident. Like other institutions, I believe that Hill can be more inclusive of people with disabilities.
As I thought about our campus and ways in which Hill is accessible, I decided to interview Dana Hunter. Hunter is a beloved associate director of admissions, who gave me insight into her experience working for the school. Hunter has Multiple Sclerosis, which she explained is an “always-changing level of disability” that “can be different depending on the day of the week, or affected by the wind blowing or the weather.” When speaking on her experience she powerfully recounted a prevalent issue within society. “No one makes anything inaccessible on purpose. Accessibility, in most cases, is an afterthought. Even when being proactive it is not from an accessible perspective. I work with engineers when building buildings and hotels on how to make buildings more equal.” Hunter explained to me that there have been some challenges for people with disabilities at Hill that, thankfully, the school has consistently made efforts to change. She noted that this is “the nature of the school” and that it has “made every accommodation” for her. New construction and renovations on campus like the Quadrivium are also being built with accessibility in mind, she explained, further addressing any concerns or worries.
Hunter’s presence has been a powerful way for her to increase disability awareness at Hill. In her story, I found the importance of disability awareness as a means for change. Hunter has found ways to inspire change and be of assistance on campus through little moments and instances. “It was good, it was great for them, because they [may] have a [disabled] family member or had a temporary injury,” said Hunter regarding interacting with students. “It made them feel like they weren’t alone. If they had the slightest issue, I could give them pointers and make it less of a struggle.”
In her time at Hill, Hunter has focused on tangible change through being informative and reminding the community that she is “handicapable.” Her message is one of empathy and being conscious of experience of everyone. Hunter hopes that the community continues a culture fueled by its “kindness factor” to continue to keep accessibility at the forefront of life at Hill and beyond.
Amplifying the voices of all people within our community is essential to truly becoming inclusive. There are necessary changes that must be implemented to continue to serve and embrace what uniquely shapes us as individuals and make this school a welcoming space for a multitude of individuals. We must work toward eliminating the discrimination that exists toward people with disabilities. Awareness is about empowering and educating people and remaining active in forcing change. We must make a concerted effort to normalize dialogue and discussion around accessibility to foster an inclusive community.