Disabled ASU students use services to their advantage

Tempe, AZ – Arizona State University is home to many student groups, however some make up a larger part of the school than others.

One particular group is comprised of students from different backgrounds, religions and sexual orientation. This group represents the entirety of the student body, however they are separated by one single factor: a disability.

Students with disabilities make up a significant percentage of the university, and most of them use the Disability Resource Center, which has offices on all four campuses.

The center provides assistance such as CART transportation, separate facilities for test taking and counseling services to students with disabilities.

“The Disability Resource Center really helps me out,” one sophomore said. “Without them, I would probably not be able to go to ASU.”

 The sophomore business major, a paraplegic, transferred to ASU this year from University of California, Los Angeles.

She decided to leave her previous school for different reasons including difficult landscapes and lack of support.

“Living in Los Angeles was hard for me because of all the hills, and I just wasn’t accepted in a lot of social situations,” she said.

Since moving here, she has noticed a change in reaction by students, however still feels that she draws a lot of attention.

Carrie Woodall-Pike, an aid to her son who suffers from mild cerebral palsy, a disease affecting muscle tone and motor control, notices that some people don’t acknowledge her son.

“There is nothing wrong with him mentally,” Woodall-Pike said. “Some people just aren’t sure that he understands what they are talking about so they will talk to me, and not to him.”

Woodall-Pike also said that she and her son have had trouble with teachers.

“The Disability Resource Center gives us a packet of information to deliver to teachers that helps explain exactly what [my son’s] conditions are and what precautions need to be taken,” Woodall-Pike explained. “However, we have had an incident where a teacher did not understand why I had to be with him in the classroom, because I have all of his medicine, and complained that an oxygen tank was disturbing class.”

She went on to explain that the situation was taken care of, however it had to be brought to the attention of the dean for that department and her son was pulled from that specific class.

This controversy was something that sparked a lot of attention, however Woodall-Pike is content with the outcome.

“I just want people to understand that [my son] is the same as everyone else,” she said.

Although students with disabilities may face more challenges than the average student, they overcome the adversity in their own ways.

Woodall-Pike’s son currently writes for the ASU Hockey Team and is enjoying his sophomore year thoroughly.

 The sophomore paraplegic, a 3.4 GPA student, joined a sorority this year, and loves every minute of it.

“It was one of the best decisions of my life, and they greeted me with open arms,” she said. “They treat me with respect, and just like everyone else.” 

Guest article contributed by Rachel Korchin, Student
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

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