Bowling Green State University: Hanna Hall
April 13, 2010
Hanna Hall is one of the oldest buildings on the University of Bowling Green and is therefore almost inaccessible for anyone that is blind, deaf, in a wheelchair, or even on crutches. I work at Hanna Hall all summer and work there this semester every Tuesday and Thursday and realized from very early on how difficult it would be to access this building if I was physically disabled. For example, there are no doors that open automatically (by the push of a button) and the doors are rather heavy because they are so old, also, there is only one entrance that allows a person in a wheelchair to have access in the building however, this only allows you to enter the first floor because any other floors all require climbing multiple flights of stairs.
Furthermore, none of the rooms in this building have any signs with Braille lettering making it extremely difficult for a blind person to find the correct room. Again the stairs would also be a problem for someone blind; Hanna hall has so many stairs and no elevator that it would be difficult to climb all those steps with a seeing-eye dog or a cane. The hallways in Hanna Hall are big enough for anyone to walk through, however, once you get to the bathrooms (which are extremely difficult to find for anyone blind and/or deaf) it would almost be impossible for a person in a wheel chair to enter. First, the tiny hallway to the entrance of the rest room is too small for a wheel chair and once in the rest room there are no stalls for people who are physically enabled and there is not enough room for a wheelchair to go through. Basically making it impossible for someone who is in a wheelchair to use the rest rooms in Hanna Hall.
This building would not necessarily be bad for a deaf person with the exception of finding the restrooms (however, this is basically difficult to find for any BGSU student). All the rooms are provided with a chalkboard, television and projectors. The building itself needs to be updated to meet the requirements for people who are disabled; the doors are heavy and do not open automatically, there is only one ramp to access the first floor of the building, there are no elevators, no Braille lettering or signage, and the bathroom are difficult to find and use.
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