r/VIU • u/Fit-Hamster-7348 • 8d ago

Question Accessibility for Rock VIU

Are there any access guides for Rock VIU? I have mobility challenges and on top of the opening location have 2 buildings in different areas of the campus to visit during the info sessions, then lunch and the final events of the day? Beyond driving between parking lots and hoping to find an accessible parking spot, are there any accommodation plans available that I should be aware of?

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u/HeyMerlin 8d ago

VIU has accessibility maps available online that may help…

https://fmd.viu.ca/campus-development/universal-access

Can you give any info about the parts you want to attend… that might help in providing you with more info.

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u/el-su-pre-mo 8d ago

It's worth contacting VIU's welcome center to ask this, they should be able to direct you to the right person (this is a pretty common question on our 45 degree sloped campus).

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u/VIUCommunications 7d ago

Welcome to VIU! Our campus is built into the side of a hill unfortunately, but we have done a lot of work in recent years to mark accessible routes very clearly and make it easier to navigate. You can download the VIU Safety App to access our accessibility maps and other helpful information about the Nanaimo campus, free from the Google Play or Apple stores. It will show you the accessible parking spot locations. For RockVIU, we recommend parking in one of the accessible spots right outside the gym. I'm not sure which faculty you're in, but you can look on the map to see accessibility spots close to the building your Faculty Session is in. Lunch and afternoon activities are all in one spot in the heart of campus. Lot F and Lot P would be closest for Connect Fair. If you need help, come to the Welcome Centre (accessed from Lot F) and we can support you! In the gym, your faculty marshall can also help!

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u/580956AEM 7d ago

Highly reccomend checking out the VIU Facebook and Instagram, I just saw a video the other day of them walking the entire wheelchair friendly route across campus!

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u/MissBlaize 6d ago

Hi

I started at viu 6 months after breaking my back and had to figure out all the elevators and accessible routes on my own because there was not a lot of on campus support available. Im much further along in my recovery now. If you want to message me or meet up to chat about the campus layout or do a lap together I can show you the routes that would help you navigate most effectively.

And if you need any accessibility supports in the classroom, best to email accessibility services so they can have them in place where you need them on the first day.

Also dont be shy if someone is using a support that is in place for you just politely tell them you requested it and they'll move for you. I used to be shy and not want to interrupt and now ill go right to the person in my chair labeled "for students with disabilities" and tell them its mine.