What Wheelchair Users Should Check Before Heading to College
Getting to Class Isn't Enough

A 2026 Taylor University study of 33 college students who use wheelchairs or power chairs found a striking gap: 28 could reach all the places they needed to go, but only 14 could reach all the places they wanted to go.

Students reported barriers involving elevators, ramps, sidewalks, automatic doors, campus terrain and snow removal, as well as inaccessible events and activities. As one student put it, “I don’t need sympathy; I just need accessibility.”

Research specifically involving college students with spinal cord injuries remains limited. A 2024 review found just 11 studies examining return to school and educational participation after SCI, with physical accessibility, support and participation among the recurring factors.

For students with SCI considering college, there are several things to look for.

Test the Campus, Not Just the Tour Route

An accessible admissions building does not tell you what it will be like to cross the campus several times a day. Try the routes between residence halls, classrooms, dining halls, libraries and student centers. Look at distances, hills, sidewalks, curb cuts, doors and elevators, and ask about accessible transportation and snow removal.

Also find out what happens when something breaks. How quickly are elevators or automatic doors repaired? What is the emergency evacuation plan?

Look Closely at Housing

An accessible room may still require careful inspection. Consider bathroom and shower access, doorway widths, transfer space, bed height, equipment storage and space for an attendant, if needed.

Colleges generally are not required to provide personal attendants or help with bathing, dressing or other personal care, so students who use attendant care need to plan for those services.

Know How Accommodations Work

In college, students generally must request accommodations themselves. Meeting with disability-services staff before enrolling can help clarify documentation requirements, housing arrangements, classroom accommodations and what to do when an accessibility problem arises.

And accessibility shouldn’t stop at classrooms and dorms. Dining halls, recreation facilities, student events, friends’ residence halls and transportation off campus are all part of college life.

For more information, see the U.S. Department of Education’s guide for students with disabilities preparing for postsecondary education.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.