Imagine being a wheelchair user in college and having to trek through several feet of snow to a bus stop in the hopes of making it to class on time. Now imagine being left behind at that bus stop by a bus driver who gives you a mere head shake and no explanation.
Arielle Rausin, a college student at University of Illinois, has been through this same situation one too many times this winter. Fortunately, her voice has been amplified by the media in an effort to raise awareness of the situation.
In 2003, Arielle became our client after being involved in a car accident in which she sustained a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Throughout the years, we have had the privilege of watching her grow into a bright, perseverant young woman who has never let her injury prevent her from pursuing her goals. In 7th grade, she began participating in 5K’s with her father. What began as a hobby at a young age, eventually led to recognition as an outstanding high school student athlete and later a scholarship for wheelchair athletes at the University of Illinois.
It’s no secret that this has been a particularly harsh winter with what seems like endless amounts of snow for those in the North. And, for Arielle, just getting to the bus stop in those conditions is a challenge. But, being left behind by her primary means of transportation presents a bigger issue. CUMTD, the bus system used by Arielle and many University of Illinois students, explains this may have been a result of overcrowding. Yet no one offered Arielle an explanation on the occasions that this has occurred.
Unfortunately, Arielle isn’t the only University of Illinois student this has happened to. She explains that she knows several others wheelchair athletes who haven’t been allowed on the bus. What is perhaps more frustrating, is that fact that these students have been left with no option but to miss class. Although, CUMTD offers to have another vehicle come to pick students up, it has never made it in time for Arielle to get to class.
Whatever, the reason may be, it is incredibly disheartening to know that Arielle and other students in wheelchairs have had to deal with this ongoing issue. However, we are happy to see that the problem has received media attention and are hopeful it will be resolved.
Reference:
WICD ABC News Channel 15
