The reality I see on the ground is that most students seeking support truly need it. For some, asking for the help they are legitimately qualified for feels embarrassing or nerve-racking, and I worry how this newly heightened scrutiny will harm those who struggle to advocate for themselves.
Some commentators interpret high rates of accommodation at elite institutions as evidence that students without disabilities are “gaming the system.” However, this interpretation does not fully account for the structural factors that shape who receives accommodations. Differences in awareness of legal rights, early access to diagnosis and documentation, and continuity of accommodations across the educational pipeline all contribute to current patterns of use.
“It felt pretty demeaning, to be honest,” Black-Diamond said. “As a student who was already doing so many other things and putting so much time and doing studies and my extracurriculars, having to take all this time to do this was really frustrating, considering they advertise themselves as a means of helping and as a means of being there for students.”
The recent spike in college students reporting disabilities should not be viewed with suspicion. It should be understood as a sign of greater awareness, reduced stigma and a growing willingness to seek support. The question is whether higher education is prepared to meet that moment.
As the national debate around accommodations grows, the College has an opportunity to be at the forefront of this issue. It is not an easy conversation, but the College will be a stronger institution if we address these questions openly and acknowledge the tensions and incentives embedded in the current system.
Wilson explained that this exclusion extended to the overall culture and even social events. “A lot about Howard is exclusionary by definition, even things like being able to go to a game, which is a big part of the HBCU culture,” she continued. “There isn’t a protocol for [people with disabilities] just being thought about as part of the culture.”
June 9, 2019. Ali Stroker wins Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. An actor, singer, and wheelchair user, Ali Stroker has been a trailblazer for disability representation on the stage. She was the first wheelchair user to graduate from the Tisch School of the Arts Drama Department at New York University. In 2015, she was the first wheelchair user to appear on Broadway, starring as Anna in the musical, Spring Awakening. For her performance as Ado Annie Carnes in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma!, Stroker became the first wheelchair user to win a Tony Award in 2019.
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