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The first step is awareness and acceptance. 鈥淗ow do we make an environment for us?鈥� asked Michael Shuttic, director of Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

How do we, as in the community as a whole, begin to eradicate the prejudices that are tied to disabilities?

This was one of the major themes from a recent UNH Students with Disabilities panel discussion. Students and members of the community gathered at the Memorial Union Building for a conversation about chronic illness and disabilities, driven by a panel of four students.

鈥淚鈥檓 becoming a human being again; for so long I was not,鈥� said Christopher, a sophomore who suffered a traumatic brain injury four years ago. He described it as an 鈥渋nvisible wound,鈥� one that spawned his interest in neuroscience. 鈥淚鈥檓 intrigued by what I鈥檝e been given back through hard work,鈥� he said.

A positive attitude, like Christopher鈥檚, resonated through all the students鈥� experiences. Rebecca, a student who鈥檚 been studying at UNH for more than four years, finds relief from her chronic pain through blogging as well as utilizing the resources at Health Services, such as yoga and reiki. Rebecca also meets with UNH nutritionists, who offer specific diet regimens based on her needs.

We don鈥檛 often think of mobility impairments until they affect us or someone we are close to. The 麻豆app has always worked to accommodate all students. Kevin, one of the panelists, said the services at UNH have 鈥渆nabled [him] to excel.鈥� He recalled the winter of 2015 being the 鈥渨orst year [he鈥檚] seen,鈥� but said the facilities staff and Wildcat Access Van did a great job making paths wheelchair-accessible.

Academically, the university has been working with Kevin to help him fulfill the requirements for his Spanish major. 鈥淯NH has been extremely helpful in working with me, with my specific challenges as a Spanish major,鈥� he said. Studying abroad 鈥渢akes a lot more planning鈥�the university is fine with that; they understand there are those extra things that go into study abroad.鈥�

The university has also been supportive of students creating schedules to best suit their needs. 鈥淚鈥檓 on a different path than most, but that鈥檚 ok,鈥� says Rebecca, whose professors have arranged a reduced course load that works with her schedule.

Leah, a therapeutic recreation major, couldn鈥檛 agree more. Growing up, she said, she fell through the cracks. 鈥淚 was never taught how to learn,鈥� she said. Leah credits the academic assistance from Student Accessibility Services听as being instrumental to her success. 鈥淲ithout the access center, I wouldn鈥檛 be at college,鈥� she said.

Shuttic said听SAS acts like 鈥渆ither a hand or net鈥� to address whatever a student might be going through.

This message has spread across UNH. Students, professors and administrators alike not only want to continue to pursue this vision but also bring attention to the fact that disabilities affect all of us in one form or another.

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