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Social barriers are still a work in progress when communicating with students who are disabled.

Geographically, JMU is a difficult school to navigate. The hills and distance between east and main campus make it almost impossible to travel in 15 minutes without sprinting. These distances are even harder to cover for students with disabilities.

However, the HDPT Paratransit is a wheelchair accessible public transportation system that’s free to JMU students. This transportation operates during the same times as the HDPT so students don’t have to worry about being late for classes. However, students must call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule their pickup. 

JMU also has an online form that students and faculty members can fill out to report accessibility barriers. These barriers could include a broken elevator or wheelchair lift, objects blocking a ramp into a building or certain weather conditions. People can report their concerns anonymously or leave their name and number. There’s also a comment box where the student or professor can explain the exact location or problem they’re facing. 

HDPT and the accessibility barriers forms aid in the physical obstacles on campus, but the social barriers are still a work in progress. In the past, individuals with disabilities were referred to as “morons” or “imbeciles” because people didn’t understand them. Even though the terminology has changed — people are referred to as someone with a disability rather than “disabled” — society still has difficulty communicating with those who are disabled. These people fear that they’ll offend the person or make them upset. The conversations are, therefore, awkward and often short, if they even take place. 

There are plenty of resources online that give tips for communicating with someone who’s disabled. Most of these tips include speaking to the person rather than their service provider or treating people the age that they are. As one continues to read more tips on communication, they’ll also realize the tips are basic forms of communication and manners. When speaking to anyone, eye contact and proper engagement are expected, so that doesn’t need to change when speaking to someone with a disability. 

A great way to understand disability is to learn about it. JMU offers a disability studies minor in which students will examine and analyze how disability is defined and constructed in society. Students can also strengthen their knowledge on disabilities by applying it to different political, rhetorical and medical frameworks. This minor would not only help students in their future careers, but in their civic lives as well. 

Disability Awareness Week (DAW), which takes place from March 25-29, is put on by JMU’s Office of Disability Services to promote knowledge and understanding of disability throughout JMU’s campus. This week is full of panel discussions, keynote speakers and film screenings. DAW is a great opportunity to educate oneself about disabilities and their impact of those locally and globally. 

In recent years, there’s been an increase in awareness and a decrease in ignorance. People have stopped using the once popular word “retard” in a negative way and have began to understand that certain words have a specific meaning and shouldn’t be used to call someone dumb or slow.

Students need to realize that students with disabilities are students first and people with disabilities are people first. Education leads to a greater understanding of ways to communicate and ways to accept people for who they are. 

Megan Klepper is a junior, writing, rhetoric and technical communication major. Contact Megan at kleppemc@dukes.jmu.edu.