ASU’s Accessibility Coalition champions inclusivity and advocacy for students with disabilities

Can you imagine a world where certain boundaries and stereotypes are built up around you, where you have to search to find resources to support your accessibility needs? For some Sun Devils, this is their reality as students living with disabilities. That is where the Accessibility Coalition at Arizona State University comes in. 

Creating an inclusive, safe space on campus, the Accessibility Coalition is a student-led group representing the disability community at ASU. Following its community-driven mission, the coalition provides reliable resources for students with disabilities, specifically how to request accommodations through ASU Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services and how to report an area on campus that is not universally accessible. 

The Accessibility Coalition was first formed in 2020 and is now home to 124 motivated members. Athena Garcia, a third-year student studying special education through the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and the director of education for the Accessibility Coalition, talked about the coalition’s origins on campus. 

“Students with disabilities needed a safe space to share their experiences in addition to advocating for accessibility and inclusion on campus,” Garcia said. “The majority of people don’t know what having a disability is like, which can lead to ableism on campus.”

Garcia, who first got involved with the Accessibility Coalition in spring 2023, shares resources with the ASU community on disability-related topics, such as accessibility and disability etiquette. 

“I wanted to become more involved with the disability community, as I have a visual impairment myself,” Garcia said. “Through joining the coalition, I learned that there are people with disabilities out there who share both similar and different experiences with me. That has helped me find a sense of community and belonging at ASU.” 

The Accessibility Coalition hosts bi-weekly general body meetings on Tuesdays from 6–7 p.m. at their office on the second floor of the Student Pavillion and virtually through Zoom. The meetings are open to all ASU students. Student members engage in fun icebreakers and critical discussions on how the coalition can champion a safe space for students with disabilities. 

The coalition hosts frequent events throughout the academic year that foster advocacy, community involvement and joy. So far this semester, the coalition has hosted a virtual, accessible yoga workshop and Beats Against the Battle, a fundraiser for the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance. 

Garcia looked back on her favorite event of fall 2023. 

“I enjoyed our Accessibility Walk/Roll event in November on the ASU West Valley campus in collaboration with Braille Devils at ASU,” Garcia said. “We ensured that the campus was accessible for all students with disabilities by checking accessible door buttons on the inside and outside of each building. We also addressed any other accessibility concerns that needed attention and further action in order to come up with solutions.” 

Outside of their social events and gatherings, the Accessibility Coalition, since its foundation, has had a focus on advocacy. The disability community sometimes faces discrimination and barriers to access out in the world. To help make lasting change, the coalition focuses its efforts on breaking down these harmful stereotypes through education. 

“One of my favorite parts is being able to advocate for other ASU students like me to help remove the ableism, misconceptions and barriers that students with disabilities face daily,” Garcia said. “I love being able to educate the ASU community on what having a disability is like. Individuals with disabilities are just like everyone else and deserve to be accepted and understood.”

The coalition partners with a variety of organizations on campus to further their mission, including Active Minds at ASU, an organization that seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, Deaf Devils, a group that promotes deaf awareness, and Devils 4 Devils, a club fostering an emotionally healthy and connected campus at ASU. To learn more about the coalition’s participating clubs and student-led groups, visit the Accessibility Coalition webpage. 

More than anything, the Accessibility Coalition gives students with disabilities a group of understanding peers who work collectively to advocate for increased accessibility across all public spaces. For Sun Devils like Garcia, the connections made through the Accessibility Coalition are invaluable. 

“We are here to support the disability community across all ASU campuses, including ASU Online students,” Garcia said. “My favorite part about the coalition and our community is being able to find other people who accept and understand me for who I am as an individual by sharing my experiences.” 

Garcia further commented on how she and other members of the disability community want to not feel ostracized for both their visible and invisible disabilities. With proper action, change and education, the disability community can find their place. 

“One thing I wish other ASU students knew about students with disabilities is that we are people, just like everyone else,” Garcia said. “Through understanding and acceptance, people can become an ally for the disability community, learn how to advocate for us and also provide the accommodations that we need.” 

For those who want to learn more about the Accessibility Coalition, check their SunDevilSync page and follow their upcoming events on their Instagram account.