Picture this: you are down in L1 or L2, turning the handle on the rolling shelves to retrieve a book. Does it cross your mind that not everyone has the mobility capacity to do so? This was one of the accessibility issues mentioned in the Collegian’s conversation with Xander Newman ’26, co-president of Disabled/Chronically Ill Student Community Organization (DISCO).

A walk around campus — from Middle Path to the Lowry Center — with a mind attuned to accessibility might reveal daily inconveniences facing disabled students. These issues lie not just in the architectural structures of the buildings, but also in academic and social spaces, especially for students with less visible physical disabilities or neurodivergencies. DISCO was created as a space for people to find community and join forces in combating accessibility issues as well as stigmatization surrounding disability.

Founded by Hannah Sussman ’25 in fall 2022, the organization has made strides in achieving these goals. For example, it partnered with the Lowry Center last semester, which resulted in the adjustment of a few physically inaccessible spots, such as broken automatic door openers or the inoperative wheelchair ramp for the pool. Additionally, to make the gym more welcoming to the uninitiated, the Lowry Center also facilitated a low-stake environment to learn how to use gym equipment in weekend workshops, per DISCO members’ suggestion. For Disability Awareness Month, DISCO made two visits to Wiggin Street Elementary School, where members shared their stories to the enthusiastic reception of the elementary students. Alongside weekly meetings, the organization hosted arts and crafts events to raise visibility and establish community. Last Wednesday, students coming to Weaver Cottage found a cozy space where they could chat with others while making small diamond paintings of various shapes — dragonflies, ladybugs, hummingbirds and so on. 

In a virtual panel held last semester with Student Accessibility and Support Services, the Office for Civil Rights and DISCO’s alumni network, the organization reflected on the improvements that have been made and the problems that persisted throughout the years. For example, as Chalmers Library was being built, some students expressed concerns over its rolling stack shelving, which did not result in any change. Middle Path’s bumpy, unpaved surface has also been in the conversation for a while. “I think a lot of students struggle with being heard [or] having their accommodation seen as legit by the institution,” Newman said. 

The campus atmosphere surrounding accommodations has not always been without tension. Discourses on the housing selection system have been circulating, with many expressing dismay over students with accommodations securing what many consider preferential housing before the Apartment and Suite Housing process begins. In response to one recent opinion article, Newman pointed out crucial information that is missing from the conversation: Students applying for accommodations are not allowed to pick which buildings they are placed in. Instead, the Office of Residential Life is in charge of the placement. Only a small number of housing is adequate for meeting disability needs, which is why there seem to be few spaces left for upperclassmen who are vying for the better residential spaces on campus, Newman explained. “I just wish that the author [of the article] had more conversation with disabled students,” he continued. 

Looking ahead, DISCO is hoping to gain members by partnering with other minority-focused affinity groups for events and workshops. The organization is also excited to continue its partnership with SASS for a pre-orientation program designed for incoming students who identify as disabled and/or chronically ill. The program aims to connect students with community as well as necessary resources for better navigation of the academic and social life at Kenyon. 

On the rewarding aspect of being a part of DISCO, Newman said: “It’s a place I can go to to ask for advice, or just share small wins in my life with other people, who might not have the same disability as me but go through the nature of being disabled. … That’s been pretty powerful, just not feeling so alone.”