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After tearing his ACL during a skiing accident in January, Syracuse University sophomore Charlie Raibman immediately began to question how he would get around campus with his crutches and knee immobilizer.

SU prides itself on being an accessible campus and is “committed to inclusivity at every touchpoint,” according to its website. However, several students, including Raibman, have noticed gaps in the university’s care. With malfunctioning accessible buttons and transportation limitations, students with injuries impacting their mobility face daily obstacles.

Raibman first secured transportation to classes through Barnes Center at the Arch, but found the process to be “complicated.” He received a note from his doctors to present to Barnes, but was told that since no expiration date was listed, he would only have it for the week, requiring him to get another note.

After securing the initial approval from Barnes, Raibman learned that the medical transportation, Access ‘Cuse, would only take him from his dorm to his first class, and then back home after his last class. He said he ended up being late to multiple classes and traveled far distances across campus.

“I needed to be at Falk, and so they would drive me to Falk. But then, if I had a class in Newhouse, that’s basically all across campus, they wouldn’t come get me again,” Raibman said. “So that was definitely hard.”

For one of his classes in Bowne Hall, Raibman gets dropped off by Access ‘Cuse in the parking lot between Bowne and Carnegie Library. He said he noticed the door he needs to use to enter the building is missing an accessible button, making it difficult for him to enter when he was on crutches.

Raibman later noted the buttons outside of Orange Hall and the 200 Waverly Ave. entrance to the Schine Student Center didn’t work either. In a statement to The Daily Orange, a university spokesperson said the entrances are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, adding that students can report facility accessibility issues by calling its office.

In 2016, the university conducted a “comprehensive accessibility audit.” The university spokesperson noted that identified issues are addressed through a dedicated accessibility fund.

Katherine Macfarlane, professor at SU’s College of Law and Director of the Disability Law and Policy Program, emphasized the importance of working accessible buttons.

“Something that appears to be as simple as a push button could determine whether a student remains trapped in a parking structure after hours or is able to enter a building and get to class on time,” Macfarlane wrote in a statement to The D.O. “They are essential to free movement about campus and often ensure personal safety and prevent injury.”

This is not the first time SU students have raised accessibility concerns. In 2021, a prospective student filed a class-action lawsuit against the university alleging the website was not compliant with federal accessibility standards.

Freshman Jessica Hooton experienced similar challenges to Raibman last semester when she broke one ankle and sprained the other during practice for the SU club gymnastics team. She also received transportation from Access ‘Cuse and was able to work with the coordinator to get rides from one class to another.

According to SU, the university offers two different transportation service options for students who require accommodations — Access ‘Cuse and SU Ambulance. Deciding which service a student needs is determined by “the individual in consultation” with CDR or the Barnes Center.

Raibman and Hooton both said they had been late to classes because the medical transportation was running behind.

Sophomore Molly Tracy was in a non-weight-bearing hard cast with a scooter for seven weeks last semester. She said she scheduled her pickups hours in advance to ensure she would make it to class on time.

“Students are asked to be flexible, as the transport company accommodates a wide variety of students and their schedules,” the university wrote in a statement to The D.O. “If a student has concerns, they can always return to CDR for additional support.”

Tracy currently lives off campus and has a car with her. As she injured her left leg, she was still able to drive. However, when Tracy asked the university if she could have a temporary parking pass so she could drive to classes, she was denied.

While Tracy said she was grateful for the medical transport, she was “really frustrated with the school” when they wouldn’t permit her to park on campus.

“In a city like Syracuse, where sidewalks remain icy and dangerous for months, a car is often the only safe form of accessible transportation available to students with mobility disabilities,” Macfarlane wrote. “Access to safe disabled parking across campus, parking that requires as little time spent on icy ground as possible, should be an immediate priority.”

A representative from SU’s Center for Disability Resources said their office welcomes complaints and concerns from students. But for the most part, they said, it doesn’t receive many, so it assumes most places are accessible. If a student comes to them with an issue, their office does “a pretty good job” helping them, the representative said.

“If a student comes in and they have a real accessibility issue, on crutches, in a wheelchair, whatever it might be, we do a pretty good job of making sure that their buildings are accessible,” the representative said. “And the facilities here, they’re on top of it and make sure that all of the buttons are working.”

CDR works with several other campus departments, including housing, dining and parking to support students.

While many students may not think about accessibility on campus, injuries such as Raibman’s can happen at any time and disrupt a student’s daily routine. Raibman described an instance where he was waiting for the elevator at Falk and no one moved out of the way to let him on, so he missed it.

“I never really would have thought about the fact that when I’m fully capable of walking, I should maybe not use the elevator, until then I’m standing there and I’m like, ‘no one is moving out of the way for me,’ I need to use the elevator,” Raibman said.

For Raibman and other students navigating similar situations, accessibility is not just about formal accommodations, but about the realities of moving through campus.

“The first step is acknowledging that a campus built on steep hills, with lots of staircases, which is subject to difficult-to-navigate weather conditions, is not inherently accessible,” Mcfarlane wrote. “(What’s) also important to assume is the constant, and not temporary, presence of people with disabilities. Ask disabled people what they need before the problem arises.”

Published on April 30, 2026 at 1:45 am
Contact Vivian: viviancollins@dailyorange.com