BEYOND THE DISABILITY

Campus accessibility is an issue for Fresno State student Isabelle Jimenez. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was only two years old. She now uses a wheelchair for transportation. 

Jimenez transferred to Fresno State from Fresno City College and immediately ran into obstacles. She wants certain things to change around campus. 

“It takes a lot of physical and mental strength that sometimes you just don’t have because after a long day you are just tired and done,” Jimenez said. 

It is not an easy task and she says the campus is making it harder for her. 

“Going to the bathroom is a difficulty. Some of the bathrooms aren’t accessible. They say they’re accessible but they’re not completely accessible,” Jimenez said. 

Fresno State does offer help to students with disabilities. SCOUT Transportation is one of the services that gets students with permanent or temporary mobility disabilities around campus. 

Troy Polnitz is a disability management specialist who works for the Services for Students with Disabilities in Fresno State. 

He listened to Jimenez’s concerns and encouraged her to make the university aware. 

Jimenez isn’t letting the obstacles get in her way. She plans on graduating and getting her degree to become a special ed teacher. 

“There’s plenty of people out there that are people with disabilities that have jobs. We’re functioning members of society so that’s what I want my kids to get out of it,” she said.