Adam Perrone’s Mission for Accessibility

When Adam Perrone was diagnosed with a T12 spinal cord injury in 2012, he was only eight years old. It was the start of a long process of learning how to navigate a world that wasn’t always built with him in mind. Today, Adam is a senior Criminal Justice major at DeSales University, preparing to pursue his master’s degree. He is active across campus and known for improving systems in ways that benefit more than just himself.

After his diagnosis, Adam spent several months recovering and adjusting to life as a wheelchair user. Even then, one priority stayed constant. He wanted to remain connected. “I just wanted to be around people,” he says. That instinct guided him through elementary and middle school, making him more independent and more aware of how environments influence opportunities and can dictate a person’s social life.

High school brought a different set of hurdles. The building didn’t have an elevator, so a lift was installed in the stairwell. It was slow, temperamental, and prone to breaking down. When it failed, Adam was stuck. To make things work, his classes were moved to the first floor. This was a change that caused grumbles from some students and even teachers. Those sighs and complaints stuck with him. "I didn’t feel fully accepted," Adam says. "I felt like a burden."

That perception affected his mindset. He began to believe there were things he shouldn’t attempt because of his disability. Looking back, he recognizes how limiting that way of thinking can be. Awareness became the first step toward changing it.

College became his turning point. For the first time, Adam had the autonomy to choose his community. He sought out clubs that aligned with his values and helped found the Differently Abled Group (DAG) to create a welcoming space for students with disabilities and allies. Through that group, he realized that belonging is something you build.

Accessibility was a key consideration during the college search. On some campus tours, there were buildings where he literally couldn’t get through the front door. At DeSales University, however, he found a campus that felt manageable and open to improvement. Instead of navigating existing systems, he began contributing to them.

He started small but stayed consistent. He worked with the Career Development Center to remove a barrier that blocked the line of sight between students and staff. He pushed for repairs on cracked sidewalks that posed safety risks. Most notably, he partnered with the Office of Student Accessibility to develop a comprehensive accessibility map. Now incoming students and their families can see exactly where the elevators, accessible entrances, and wheelchair-friendly routes are, before they even step on campus.

"You only have so much time in a place," Adam says. "If you can leave it better than you found it, that matters." Adam often uses humor to navigate the social friction that can come with a disability. He finds it eases the tension for others and lets them see the person behind the wheelchair. "I use humor to disarm awkwardness," he explains. "It helps people see that I’m just a normal person." While society slowly becomes more inclusive, he knows that real change usually happens during everyday interactions.

As he prepares for graduate school, Adam’s focus remains on continuing to be an advocate. He has transformed the isolation he felt in those high school hallways into leadership. His story is much more than being a wheelchair user. He is a man who decided that if a door was closed, he would be the one to find the key. He did it for himself, and he is continuing it for everyone coming up behind him.