Student Centre plagued with accessibility hurdles and barriers after release of audit

Poor signage, lack of braille, air purifiers, and automatic doors are the main problems sabotaging the Student Centre’s quest for accessibility for all genders, body types, and disabilities.
In a bid to address concerns, the York Federation of Students’ Access Centre has released their accessibility audit report on the Student Centre at Keele campus, identifying accessibility challenges and strategies to deal with them.
Strategies include creating a committee for accessibility issues, lobbying York administration for more accessible spaces, limiting the creation of future accessibility barriers, and increasing awareness of accessibility issues.
Findings are sorted into six categories including vision, hearing, scent and chemical sensitivity, wheelchair and limited mobility, and bathroom access.
Vision related barriers in particular remain considerable.
[su_pullquote]Third-floor meeting and conference rooms present a formidable barrier to blind and low-vision individuals, lacking braille and tactile signage. Suggested remedies include increased font sizes, matte lettering, and braille signs.[/su_pullquote]
Fluorescent lighting were identified as problematic for its ability to cause migraines and other symptoms for individuals sensitive to light.
In contrast, hearing barriers were fewer, with the main concern being a deaf person’s inability to identify audio alarms. The report suggests pairing visual and audio alarms together.
Further, the most common issue is lack of air purifiers, with nothing to arrest the spread of allergens, mold, and other contaminants. Installing purifiers and implementing a scent-free policy for student space are touted as solutions to this concern.
Other concerns regarding the meeting rooms and Community Service Group spaces include a widespread lack of automatic doors. Conference and meeting room doors swing inwards, which further restricts access for mobility-limited people.
The “other” category included prominently displaying evacuation plans and stocking student spaces with first aid kits as well as alarm buttons in washrooms. Drinking fountains were also singled out for inadequate water pressure.
According to the report, two categories of checklists were used to access the building: general student space and rooms and offices. Criteria for checklists emphasize physical disabilities, with gender and body type also considered.
Although YFS promotional materials claim the report was to have been presented to the Student Centre Board in early September, YFS VP Equity Huda Alsarraj confirmed to Excalibur the report was not presented to the Student Centre.
With respect to the Access Centre, Daulton Scott, equity coordinator, says the most frequently expressed concerns include long wait times and difficulty navigating processes with Counselling and Disability Services, barriers to physical access in older buildings, and few accessible washrooms.
Alex Kvaskov
Assistant News Editor