Wolfpack Welcome Week, geared mostly toward first-year and transfer students, is primarily to orient students to the services and extracurricular opportunities on campus while providing a way for students to get to know each other. On the day I moved into campus, I joined what would be the first of many welcome week activities, which, on that particular day, was bouncing around in an inflatable house on Stafford Commons and then going to get Howling Cow ice cream with the new people I’d met.
While looking at the schedule for the rest of the week’s activities, from Rec Fest to the Moonlight Howl and Run, I noticed they all had something in common: While the activities all looked like a great way to meet people, orient to the outside environment and have fun, many of the activities seemed as though they might present a challenge for individuals with various disabilities.
According to recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, 18% of college students aged 15- to 23-years-old reported having a disability. While physical disabilities are included in this statistic, this also can include “invisible” disabilities: learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and mental illness.
At NC State, the Disability Resource Office provides accommodations for students with disabilities, and as of last year, there were 1,536 students registered for disability-specific accommodations. While this may seem like a small number, considering the size of the undergraduate population, the breakdown of students registered by class — 535 seniors versus 168 freshman — indicates that many students do not register with the DRO immediately, perhaps because they are unaware of the services offered or because their disability worsens throughout their undergraduate career.
Instead of removing certain activities from Wolfpack Welcome Week, it could be helpful to add or modify specific activities to enhance accessibility. For instance, UAB could provide an alternative to activities which serve a specific purpose. The Target Run and the Midnight Howl and Run could include an optional morning walk or a designated Wolfline trip throughout campus, which could allow people to find their classes and see important parts of campus without the excess sensory overload or movement. Also, activities such as the Back to School Jam could potentially be modified for those who experience sensory issues.
While the UAB does include a statement at the bottom of its website which offers “assistive devices, services, or other accommodations” for individuals who may desire these services, this is not enough to fully create an inclusive environment. The Wolfpack Welcome Week schedule is still very geared to those without physical or mental disabilities. In addition to offering these accommodations, UAB should also consider adding events to the schedule which allow for more inclusivity so that all members of the Wolfpack, regardless of ability, can enjoy the full extent of Wolfpack Welcome Week.
