The Issue

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, it is illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities in jobs, schools, transportation, and other public and private spaces that are open to the public (ADA National Network, n.d.). Despite this, the SUNY Brockport campus lacks infrastructure critical for individuals with physical disabilities. How can we, as a school community, expect all students to have an equal chance at success if they are being impeded at every turn? Equity is not just about equal opportunity—it is about providing individuals with what they need to be on a level playing field. You can advocate for your peers by signing and sharing this petition! 

Our research group has spent time analyzing the main Brockport campus. Notable observations include, but aren’t limited to: 

-Many buildings have only one accessible entrance, while others have none. 
-Accessible entrances are often located away from main entrances, requiring students to take inconvenient routes. 
-Handicapped parking spots are not always near accessible doors. 
The outdoor seating area at Seymour College Union has no accessible doors, and all seating consists of high stools with tables at chest height. 
-Many ramps on campus are too steep for safe use with wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches. 
-A particularly concerning ramp at the Smith Lennon Science Center had a steep incline with a dangerous drop-off into a garden and no railing for safety. 
-Heavy doors leading to bathrooms that are inaccessible for someone who utilizes mobility aids. 
-Stalls that are not big enough for those with a wheelchair to keep it in the stall with them which can be a risk of tampering or thievery. 

Additionally, a member of our research team, Jamie McCormick, shared with us their lived experience as a student with a physical disability. 

“Routes to accessible doors were long and exhausting, so sometimes I would wait at a closer, inaccessible door for someone to come along and help me open it. The elevator in my building for a biology lab was broken for months, so I had to take the stairs up to the second floor with my cane each week. I was the only one I ever saw on campus with these kinds of mobility aids, and I can see why. It’s not welcoming for physically disabled students.” 

These accessibility barriers not only hinder students' ability to navigate campus safely but also limit their academic and social experiences. The lack of adequate infrastructure disproportionately affects students with mobility impairments, impeding their ability to fully participate in campus life. These firsthand accounts illustrate how Brockport's lack of adequate accessibility accommodations prevents students from fully participating in academic and social life, further emphasizing the urgency for improvements. You can help make our campus more accessible by signing this petition! By signing and sharing this petition, you will increase the visibility of these issues. Please help us advocate for an inclusive environment! 

 

Facts and Solutions

There has never been a better time to promote campus accessibility than now! Did you know that over 30,000 students within the SUNY system self-report having a disability? At SUNY Brockport, Student Accessibility Services (SAS) supports approximately 600 students with disabilities. However, it is unclear how many of those students are mobility aid users. Additionally, this does not include students who choose not to report their disability due to factors such as stigma, privacy concerns, lack of awareness about available resources, or difficulty navigating the reporting process. According to Timmerman & Mulvihill (2015) and the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), only about 37% of students who received accommodations in high school report their disability status in higher education. And of those students who disclose their disability status, only 24% will receive accommodations. Despite the ADA guaranteeing reasonable accommodations, many students with disabilities at Brockport may be experiencing similar barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. 

During our research, we learned how state funding is allocated towards mobility access needs. According to the FY 2025 NYS Enacted Budget (2024), SUNY Brockport received a $2.2 million increase in state funding, a 12% rise from the previous year. The college of Brockport has seen a total increase of $5.7 million, or 37.6% over the last two years. The State University of New York system has invested approximately $10 million in annual sustainable funding to support disability accommodations. This funding aims to ensure those living with disabilities have access to a proper educational experience. Due to these financial factors, SUNY Brockport needs to ensure the distribution of this funding is being allocated properly to support students with physical disabilities. This includes infrastructure improvements, and other necessary resources to enhance mobility on campus. This is essential for providing students with disabilities an equitable educational experience and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards. It is crucial SUNY Brockport receives their fair share of funding provided and uses it properly to enhance students' daily life on campus. The university must remain transparent in how these funds are utilized and take proactive steps to address any gaps in accessibility.  

Using this funding, we are advocating for the following changes: 

-Installing additional accessibility buttons for doors. 
-Ensuring timely repairs of elevators that are out of service. 
-Improving ramp designs to meet safer slope standards. 
-Adding railings to hazardous ramps to prevent falls. 
-Ensuring accessible seating in key campus areas, including the Seymour College Union patio. 
-Placing accessible entrances in convenient and visible locations rather than hidden side doors. 
-Enlarging stalls to ensure that those with mobility aids will be able to keep them with them while they use the restroom. 
-Replacing restroom doors with a lighter material that swings as opposed to a door that is heavy and requires exerted effort to pull or push which may be otherwise inaccessible. 
-Maintaining online classes and programs as an option for students who have trouble making it to campus regularly. 
 

In addition to the immediate campus infrastructure improvements, it's important to recognize the broader commitment within the SUNY system to accessibility and inclusion. The Making SUNY More Accessible article (Arnone, 2025) emphasizes an ongoing initiative to improve accessibility within SUNY campuses, including Brockport. This commitment involves increasing access, faculty accountability, and the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)—a set of principles aimed at making education more inclusive by catering to diverse learning styles and needs. UDL empowers faculty to adopt flexible teaching methods that accommodate all students, including those with disabilities, ensuring that they have the tools and support to succeed. Additionally, this approach should extend to online courses, which could serve as an important accommodation for students who face challenges attending in-person classes due to physical disabilities. It’s crucial to remember that improving accessibility is an ongoing process. While progress has been made, there is always more to be done. As stated in the article, "Once things have been improved, it’s great, but that doesn’t mean that more things can’t be improved on SUNY campuses." This continuous improvement approach aligns with our call for a more accessible campus, where all students have equal access to success. 

 

Call to Action

To make SUNY Brockport a more inclusive and accessible environment for all students, we must take collective action to address the barriers students with disabilities face. By improving campus infrastructure, providing assistance, and ensuring that necessary accommodations are consistently available, we can create a truly accessible campus for everyone. We all have a responsibility to ensure that all students, regardless of ability, can navigate and thrive on campus without facing unnecessary obstacles. Let’s come together and advocate for a campus where everyone has equal access to success and opportunity! 

 To support this initiative, please sign this petition and contact local representatives to advocate for campus accessibility improvements: 

Find your representative: House of Representatives 
Contact the state governor: Governor’s Office 

Resources on Campus for Accessibility: 

Student Accessibility Services (SAS): Support for students with disabilities.  
Located in the Brown Building, 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420. 
Phone: (585) 395-5409 

Facilities and Planning Department: Manages campus maintenance and accessibility concerns.  
Located in the Commissary Building, Brockport, NY 14420.  
Phone: (585) 395-2408 

The Committee on Accessibility: Part of the President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion (PCDI). 
 Located at 350 Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420. 
 Phone: (585) 395-5546 or (585) 395-5092 

Off-Campus Resources: 

ADA Information Line: For questions about the ADA and related concerns. 
 Phone: 800-514-0301 
 

References 

ADA National Network. (n.d.). An overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA National Network. https://adata.org/factsheet/ADA-overview 

Arnone, A. (2025, February 28). Making SUNY More Accessible. University News. https://www.brockport.edu/live/news/10195-making-suny-more-accessible 

Disability accommodations. (n.d.). https://brockport.concerncenter.com/concern/1510 

Division of the budget. FY 2025 Enacted Budget Overview. (2024). https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy25/en/index.html 

Governor Hochul announces impact of $10 million annual investment to increase support for SUNY students with disabilities. Governor Kathy Hochul. (2024, January 11). https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-impact-10-million-annual-investment-increase-support-suny-students 

National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Students with disabilities at degree-granting postsecondary institutions (NCES 2022-071). U.S. Department of Education.  https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2022/2022071/index.asp 

SUNY Delhi to Enhance Support for Students with Disabilities. (n.d.). https://www.delhi.edu/about/college-relations/newsroom/suny-delhi-to-enhance-support-for-students-with-disabilities 

Timmerman, L. C., & Mulvihill, T. M. (2015). Accommodations in the college setting: The perspectives of students living with disabilities. The Qualitative Report, 20(10), 1609-1625.