I do think that it’s pretty interesting how this coronavirus pandemic has showcased how manufactured inaccessibility is.
When I was too sick to attend high school, I was told that any distance learning accommodations were impossible and I was forced to drop out. Now, my same high school has switched to online courses.
When I asked my college’s disability office if they could offer any accommodations for days I was unable to make it to class due to my illness, I was told that it was not possible, and that if I missed more than the allotted amount of days I would be automatically failed. Now, my college is offering numerous online accommodations and any illness related absences are fully excused.
When I spoke with my college about the physical problems that the increased burden of work study was causing me, they didn’t care, and said I could either work 20 hours a week or not get the money. Now, they’re funding work study for students who are either ill or who are not physically be on campus.
It almost seems like full accessibility isn’t actually impossible, and institutions just don’t want to make the effort to include disabled individuals.
Somehow, when abled people need accommodations, they’re readily available.
