The Traveling Wheelchair

1 Massasoit Blvd
Brockton, MA 02302
Phone: 508-588-9100 (ext: 1120)
Website: http://www.massasoit.mass.edu/

Yesterday, my friends and I traveled to Massasoit Community College’s Brockton Campus. We were invited to participate in DisAbility Awareness Day at Massasoit Community College.

This was our second year attending this great event. Once again, it was held in the Student Center, which is a FIVE STAR facility for wheelchair accessibility. The college definitely makes every effort on making all areas fully accessible to all.

Laura Yellen and Pete from Helping Hands organize this great event where many share invaluable information on disABILITY. Thank you Laura and Pete!!!

Our presentation was on Wheelchair Accessibility and W/C Passenger Safety. We passed out literature regarding the new Massachusetts legislation Senate 1948 and House 3785 : “An Act Relative to the Transportation of Individuals Seated in Wheelchairs”. We also passed out many RIDE SAFE brochures.

We learned a great deal from others who presented very useful information on Braille, Epilepsy, Career Choices, Respite Care, Assistive Communication Devices, Language Systems, Fitness, Family Supports, Independent living and much more.

My mom, friends and I had lunch in the Cafeteria of Massasoit Community College. The Cafeteria is located inside the Student Center. There is direct wheelchair access from inside the Student Center or from outside at a side entrance.

Both entrances have automatic doors by simple push of a button. Cafeteria Hours are Monday – Thursday from 7:30 am – 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm and Friday from 7:30 am – 1:30 pm.

The cafeteria is spacious with much room to maneuver my chair. We saw others in the Cafeteria who attended DisABILITY Awarness Day and shared more information.

Upon entering the area where you get your food, I was pleased to find the dispenser for the plastic forks, knife and spoon was of a perfect height for me to reach from my chair; I could independently get my own silverware.

My friends and I approached a cafeteria style line where you choose your food choices; the trays are within my reach; the countertop to place your tray on is within my reach as well.

The first section has a choice of hot food dishes. The employee working behind this counter was very kind; she cooked and then placed my Chicken Panini right on my tray for me. As we traveled along the line; I noticed the fast food choices that are already cooked i.e. chicken fingers, hot dogs and hamburgers not within my reach; they are placed too high on the counter.

The pizza is located in a glass warming cabinet; it is also too high and out of my reach.  A Cafeteria employee assured me that they will always help a disabled person get their choice of food. The soda, bottled water, and other drink choices are all located in a refrigerated cabinet that is within my reach.

The cashier counter is of perfect height for my chair; my mom treated me and my friends to lunch; she gave me money to pay the cashier, who was very kind and courteous. I had no problem completing the transaction.

Once we exited the food line, we only saw booths in this cafeteria dining room. These booths are narrow and not very wheelchair accessible for they are narrow; I sat on the outside and found it uncomfortable for there was not enough room for me to fit my legs under the table.

We all squeezed in; Ric and Kellie sat on one side, while my mom on the other side and me sticking out on the end. Kellie had to keep one leg on the inside and one on the outside in order for me to fit; we all felt like we were squeezed in like a can of sardines. Tony and Kate joined us. We enjoyed our meal and had a lot of laughs!

We saw Pete, our friend from Helping Hands Club. He was having lunch at another booth. I noticed Pete’s chair didn’t fit well at the booth either; for he sat sideways at the end of the table. We again thanked Pete for inviting us for we all had a very educational and fun time at Disability Awareness Day!

Exiting the dining area, my mom, friends and I saw a large round dining table. It really sticks out for it is so different from all the booths. Wow, not sure how we all missed seeing this table. Located right in the center of the table is a sign which states: “THIS TABLE IS RESERVED FOR THE DISABLED. THE CHAIRS NEED TO STAY AT THIS TABLE. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THEM”.

My mom, friends and I think the college had great intentions placing this wheelchair accessible table in the cafeteria. BUT, we feel it SEGREAGATES the physically disabled students from the other students. We feel it would have been much better to have made some of the booths wheelchair accessible.  This would be very easy to do; just remove the booth seating from the exterior side of a few of the end booths; so a person in a wheelchair can comfortably sit at a booth just like the other physically able students.

The restrooms, located right outside the cafeteria are fully wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant; they even have push button automatic doors; the handicap stall is spacious with safety grab bars located at a perfect height; the accessible sink is of a perfect height and the pipes covered under one of accessible sinks is covered; the paper towel and hand sanitizer dispensers are within my reach.

Upon exiting the Cafeteria, we saw a bus that is wheelchair acccessible for it has a wheelchair accessible lift. Wow, we thought this is fantastic that wheelchair-seated students can take this bus to and from the College.

Kenny & co give Cafeteria of Massasoit Community College FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. The college definitely makes every effort on making all areas fully accessible to all. However, we suggest they make some of the booths wheelchair accessible and remove the large round table reserved for disabled so all students will have equal and full access and no one will feel segregated.

Kenny & co give Massasoit Community College’s Helping Hands Club, Laura and Pete FIVE STARS for organizing DisABILITY Awareness Day. It was a great event enjoyed by all. Thank-You Laura, Pete and all members of Helping Hands Club!