BEMIDJI 鈥� With the end of the fall semester coming up in December, students in Sherry Holloway鈥檚 Inclusive Physical Education class had a different idea of what they wanted their final exam to be.
Considering the class鈥� focus on teaching physical education to children with disabilities, the idea of accessibility gave way to an unconventional final project that culminated in a tour throughout the Bemidji State campus Tuesday morning, Nov. 28.
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This wasn鈥檛 a typical tour, however, as each of the nine students, President John Hoffman and his wife, Joy, navigated their way from the John Glas Fieldhouse to Deputy Hall in wheelchairs while making note of areas where accessibility could be improved.
Leading the charge was BSU professor Thomas Dirth, who spoke to the students about various aspects of disability and current accommodations in BSU鈥檚 infrastructure. Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 senior Chloe Kirkpatrick 鈥� along with her adoptive mother, Bradi 鈥� also shared their experiences.
鈥淐hloe spoke in our class a few weeks ago and (the class) asked Chloe if she was going to come to school here,鈥� Holloway said. 鈥淪he said she didn鈥檛 know because accessibility was an issue, so the students started brainstorming and they said, 鈥楽herry, what if we did a project for our final?鈥� This was the perfect thing to do. You learn the most through experience.鈥�
Taking note
With clipboards in hand, students wheeled their way in and out of buildings and through the tunnel system, which proved difficult for some.
鈥淗uman beings are immensely adaptable, so it might be difficult going up hills or to move around,鈥� Dirth said, 鈥渂ut that鈥檚 because you鈥檙e experiencing a wheelchair for the first time. As somebody who uses a wheelchair, you develop that upper body strength over time.鈥�
With external constraints still in place, Bradi shared her mindset as it relates to Chloe鈥檚 experience as a person with a disability.
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鈥淲e like to look at Chloe and say that she is not disabled, but the world disables her,鈥� Kirkpatrick said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e out there (using the wheelchairs), look at how the world is disabling Chloe, how it鈥檚 disabling Tom and how you鈥檙e disabled by your surroundings.鈥�
During the tour, the group noted the elimination of the skywalk between Bridgeman and Hagg-Sauer Halls after Hagg-Sauer was torn down and reconstructed in 2020. Other concerns included inaccessible bathrooms and appropriate handicapped signage throughout campus.
Dirth noted empathy that came about as a result of Tuesday鈥檚 activity but also hopes to change perceptions of how others view disabilities of all kinds.
鈥淥ftentimes, people think that being a person with a disability is a drag. You feel very negatively and you have negative emotions about disability,鈥� Dirth said, 鈥渂ut the wheelchair is actually very liberating for people to use.鈥�
With hopes to continue expanding accommodations at BSU, Dirth encouraged the class to act as allies to those with disabilities.
鈥淚f somebody with a disability can鈥檛 use or access a certain point, you would be an ally by also not doing that,鈥� Dirth said. 鈥淚f you were to use a tunnel that had stairs, being an ally would mean not using that tunnel.
鈥淚f we as an institution got to a point where students were willing, for a short time, to boycott the tunnels or not use them as a point of pride and recruitment to the institution, there would be a sense of 鈥榣et鈥檚 do something that鈥檚 more accessible,鈥� That can be our point of pride, that we upgraded the campus for all people.鈥�
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Making progress
Along with work yet to be done, there was also a focus on the progress BSU has made over the years in terms of accessibility.
鈥淥ur society is not where it needs to be, but we鈥檙e getting better,鈥� Hoffman said. 鈥淭he students are going to work in spaces that are much more diverse in terms of ability than I have or previous generations have.鈥�
Keeping BSU鈥檚 budget deficit in mind, Holloway detailed the class鈥� plans to share their notes with appropriate stakeholders.
鈥淚f we had this giant bag of money, we would be able to fix everything,鈥� Holloway mentioned. 鈥淭he students are going to generate a plan of some of the things BSU could start with that are financially sound so we can get the ball rolling and bring these ideas to the people who need to work in these areas.鈥�
The students鈥� work won鈥檛 end when the semester ends as many of them participate in which aims to engage students and community members of all abilities in various activities. These include basketball, rock climbing, canoeing, and game and movie nights.
Such experiences serve a greater purpose for the students involved.
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鈥淲e do anything to make it inclusive for everyone,鈥� Holloway left off. 鈥淭hese are educators who will be going out into schools to advocate for their own students.鈥�
The Trust Project
