By Caitlin Miller, '09
Proctor’s Mission Statement notes our “mission is to educate members of its diverse community for lives that demonstrate honesty, compassion, respect, and responsibility.” However, the Mission Statement ignores educating physically disabled students.
Just from the look at the campus, anyone can tell that a physically disabled person would have a difficult time getting around. Chris Bartlett, Admissions Director, stated, “We have the minimum code, we have the elevators and the handicap bathrooms. But think about it. If a person in a wheel chair wanted to take an art class in Slocumb Hall, it would be impossible.” The lack of more resources needed to make the campus accessible for physically disabled people is overwhelming. There are currently only two automatic doors in the newer buildings (Fowler Dorm and the Wilkins Meeting House) on the entire campus and for many buildings the only means of access is to go up stairs.
Some people may think at least the walkways are smooth and don’t have bumps in them. However, most of these smooth paths tend to be covered with snow many months of the year with sheets of black ice underneath making it difficult for even non-handicapped students here to walk to classes.
Although Proctor would never deny a physically disabled student if they were socially and academically a good fit, in reality Proctor is not ready to handle students who are in wheel chairs. Chris noted, “We would have to do a lot of work before we would be able to realistically accept a handicapped student.” Chris recalled that a physically disabled parent of a prospective student came back to the admissions office after going on tour and said that the campus was very difficult to maneuver.
Another issue that a physically disabled student would face if accepted to Proctor would be fitting into our programs. A four-day hike into the mountains of New Hampshire on orientation is the first step a new Proctor student takes in learning about the school as well as bonding among other new students. “Orientation is a part of the program and a fully handicapped person couldn’t participate in that.” Chris shared. There is also the issue of sports and even other afternoon activates that a physically disabled student would not be able to participate in. The choices of afternoon activities are limited to physically disabled students due to the level of activity and access by wheel chair. There is also the issue of Proctor’s popular off campus programs. The physically disabled may not be able to participate in an off campus program due to the lack of accommodations. Most classroom/home stay and ocean/mountain experiences are not suited to handle the needs of a physically disabled student, so these students would not even have the option to be involved with an off campus program.
Proctor says they would accept a physically disabled student if they qualified academically and socially, but in reality, Proctor is not ready to accept someone with a physical disability. Proctor needs to do a lot of work to make the campus more wheel chair acessable before accepting a physically disabled student.
