Students with physical disabilities have spent years calling for better accessibility on campus. They say NU is not doing enough, leaving them in search of justice — and community.

By NICOLE MARKUS

daily senior staffer @nicolejmarkus

After his wheelchair flipped over on one of Northwestern’s uneven sidewalks last spring, Alec Cabacungan broke his hip.

The Medill junior has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. The condition causes Cabacungan’s bones to break easily, making getting around difficult. NU’s bumpy, uneven terrain is unforgiving for those with physical disabilities — and the problems with the sidewalks are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to accessibility concerns on campus.

This was not the first time Cabacungan had an experience like this. He said he took a leave during Winter Quarter 2022 after his wheelchair flipped during break last fall.

“I was just so excited to come back. And then I flipped over again,” he said. “I had to go