Visual Impairments

Lewis & Clark College is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible campus environment for all members of our community. Over the past two decades, we have continued to expand our efforts to reduce barriers and increase access across campus. While we have made significant progress, particularly in physical accessibility, we acknowledge that continued work is essential to ensure equity for everyone.

The college’s historic location on a hillside estate presents unique navigational challenges, especially for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Guided by a campus-wide accessibility master plan and the valuable input of students with lived experience, we have implemented improvements that make campus navigation increasingly accessible and intuitive.

Staff in the Office of Student Accessibility collaborate with Campus Living, Facilities, and other departments to provide individualized orientation support. This includes campus tours, assistance in locating classrooms and key services, and ensuring that wayfinding is accessible. We emphasize the importance of proactive communication and encourage students to engage in self-advocacy by notifying our office of their needs as early as possible.

Accommodations for students who are blind or have low vision are determined on a case-by-case basis through an interactive process. We welcome you to contact our office at 503-768-7192 or access@lclark.edu if you are planning to visit or attend Lewis & Clark. Early outreach helps ensure that we can coordinate appropriate services and supports to promote your full participation in campus life.