Accessibility on campus is a topic that oftentimes goes undiscussed, however, it is an essential part of creating an inclusive environment for all. Achieving an accommodating space ensures that those with disabilities have a near same experience and opportunity as those without.
For example, Annabelle Brennan ’23 talked about her brief time on crutches, saying, “I feel like the campus is accommodating.” She continued, “You just have to power through getting up stairs, and there are ramps, but they’re typically placed in very inconvenient places.” She concluded, “I think campus is easy to get around if you’re not on crutches for a long time.”
Most buildings around campus have ramps but they typically do not lead to the main entrance. However, Brennan shared that her experience maneuvering throughout dorm spaces posed a bigger struggle, as few dorms have entrance ramps or inside access to higher floors.
Most academic buildings as well as the Hess Center for the Arts and the Athletic Center have at least one elevator which makes it easier to move between floors, with the exception of the Arms and Kendall Buildings. Additionally, the only dorms with elevators are Simmons and O’Byrne Curtis.
Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy recognized the Academy’s accessibility issues, saying, “When we look to renovate a dorm, which is rather an extensive project, we have to look at what we would do for students that regularly use that space.” According to Mr. Sheehy, although the newer dorms have been built with accessibility in mind, the older ones still must work to improve in the area.
Other buildings are also being renovated with accessibility in mind. “One project that I’m sure you’ve heard of is regarding the new Dining Hall, and one question that we work with when thinking about the new iteration is what accessibility looks like in terms of the old design,” said Mr. Sheehy. He also expressed the significance of thinking about how people interact with buildings and what the building is offering them. A lot of the time, this means conserving the look and structure of Historic Deerfield, which plays a role in thinking about renovations and additions to buildings.
In a classroom setting, when students are injured, many teachers will choose to move to a different classroom for accessibility, especially when the original class room was in the Arms.
Associate Director of Admission Genevieve Pitt describes the Historic Deerfield preservation. “I think they have done a good job with the new buildings, like the Hess and Athletic Center, but I think the Historic Core is a little more difficult,” said Ms. Pitt. The Admissions Office considers accessibility mainly when thinking about tours, as they work to ensure mobility does not deter potential students. They therefore need to pay attention to making sure that their visitors’ experiences aren’t compromised by accessibility.
This initiative has also been taken up by students. Gloria Chun ’23, a leader of the Deerfield Academy Disability Alliance (DADA), has worked to create a more accessible campus. Chun explained, “As a Head Tour Guide, I see students with limited accessibility which really hindered them from touring campus.” Chun was thus inspired to find alternate routes around campus to make tours more accessible. Chun states that accessibility has also been a topic of discussion in DADA, “As students, our top priority is to raise awareness and make the topic more proactive with faculty, to further progress accessibility.”
From Admissions to the student body, campus accessibility plays a significant role in ensuring Deerfield provides an inclusive and holistic experience for all.