{"id":17941,"date":"2024-11-04T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nsm-seating.com\/?p=17941"},"modified":"2024-11-04T16:54:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T21:54:48","slug":"navigating-your-college-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nsm-seating.com\/journal\/navigating-your-college-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Your College Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Tips to help CRT users make informed decisions about where they go to college<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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There\u2019s a lot to consider when making your college decision, especially for college students who use Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) for mobility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, we chatted with Rosie Dunn, a 2022 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and current graduate student at Belmont University in Nashville, and Alex Johnson, a freshman at Lipscomb University, a faith-based, liberal arts college in Nashville, about their experiences, advice and insight for new and soon-to-be college students. Dr. Misty Parsley from Lipscomb University also offered insights as a university administrator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meet the Experts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Rosie Dunn <\/strong>is a 2022 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, who recently completed a graduate program in disability studies at University College Dublin. Rosie is currently pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy at Nashville\u2019s Belmont University. She is a full-time manual wheelchair user after suffering a spinal cord injury at a young age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alex Johnson<\/strong> just began his freshman year at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where he is a pastoral leadership major. Alex grew up in Tennessee and advocates for accessibility and disability awareness through an awareness program he and his dad, Nathan, developed called \u201cSpend a Day in My Wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Misty Parsley<\/strong> is the executive director of the Office of Accessibility and Learning Support at Lipscomb University in Nashville. In this role, Dr. Parsley works to ensure accessibility and inclusion to students and campus visitors with any type of disability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Advice to Help Navigate Your College Decision<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re visiting college this fall in preparation to make your college decision, Rosie and Alex had a few suggestions to guide you through the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Visit your top choices.<\/strong>
    \u201cI recommend that you visit any school you\u2019re applying to or seriously considering in person,\u201d Rosie says. While virtual visits can be helpful, visiting the campus in person gives you a feel for the campus terrain, environment and atmosphere. \u201cI toured schools I really liked on paper, but visiting helped me to see if I could physically navigate campus on a regular basis,\u201d Rosie says. \u201cIt\u2019s really valuable to see the campus with your own eyes and interact with people and see if it\u2019s an environment you want to be in.\u201d

    Virtual visits, photos and videos are helpful, but there\u2019s nothing like rolling around campus on your own wheels. A visit can help you gauge the terrain and decide if it\u2019s something you can physically navigate day-in and day-out, Alex advises. \u201cMake sure you visit and that you\u2019re comfortable managing campus,\u201d he says. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n


    It\u2019s also important to think about things like weather. Rosie knew that Notre Dame would have colder weather and more snow than her hometown, Nashville. \u201cIt snows a lot at Notre Dame, and it\u2019s very cold,\u201d she says. \u201cI had to think about if I was physically able to handle those temperatures and ask questions about how quickly they are about clearing the sidewalks when it snows.\u201d
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Meet with disability services.<\/strong>
      All colleges and universities that receive federal funding must have a disability services office and provide accommodations for students with disabilities. Both Rosie and Alex advise reaching out to the disability services offices at your top schools while you\u2019re still in the process of making your decision.

      \u201cMake sure you meet with the Office of Accessibility or whatever your school calls the disability services office and introduce yourself personally,\u201d Alex says. \u201cThey can help you get integrated with campus and help you with any accommodations you may need. It\u2019s not a shameful thing to have to need a little help.\u201d

      Prospective students should ask questions about things that might seem obvious\u2014parking, accessible entrances, or the process for taking out your trash or getting your mail\u2014so that you know what solutions are in place for students with disabilities before you make your decision or move to campus.

      Those are conversations Dr. Misty Parsley says most disability services offices welcome, especially at Lipscomb. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n


      \u201cOne of our core values at Lipscomb is belonging, so we want to make sure anyone who comes to Lipscomb feels like they belong here,\u201d she says. \u201cStudents with disabilities and their families can help to educate us [about accessibility]. So it\u2019s really important to find a campus that\u2019s willing to listen and develop a relationship with you as a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cSo, as you\u2019re looking at colleges, get to know the staff in the disability services office,\u201d she continues. \u201cEven if you don\u2019t think you need accommodations, at some point in your college career, you may need help from our office, and we want to make sure that relationship is already developed.\u201d
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Talk to students who use mobility equipment.<\/strong>
        Talking with students who navigate campus in a wheelchair or use other mobility equipment can be a great way to get a glimpse of what it\u2019s like to live there, Rosie says. \u201cI talked with a girl who was a year ahead of me and was able to get her perspective of what it\u2019s like to really be a student there,\u201d Rosie says. If you already know a CRT user who is a student at one of your top schools, Rosie suggests reaching out. Otherwise, ask the disability services office about students who might be willing to share about their college experience. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        If you\u2019re in the process of making college visits this fall, take a few minutes to research local wheelchair providers close to your top schools. Once you\u2019ve made your decision, schedule a visit to meet the local team before the school year begins. Use our branch locator<\/a> to find a local NSM branch.



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