Wilson Alliance for Accessibility
Fury Basso-Davis | April 16, 2025
At Warren Wilson College (WWC), a student-led group is making an impact by addressing a long-overdue issue on campus: physical accessibility. The Wilson Alliance for Accessibility (WAFA) was formed by Icarus Aviles, a junior, to create a space where accessibility concerns are heard and addressed.
Before WAFA, there was a group called the Disabled Students Alliance, but many of its members left WWC due to the lack of accessibility they were working to address. Rather than continue under the same name, WAFA was created as a rebrand with different energy and goals.
“As someone with an invisible disability, people don’t always see what I’m dealing with. But this space—this community—has been one of the best parts of my time at Wilson,” Emmet Clements, a member of WAFA said.
WAFA is a community where disabled students can connect and share their experiences on campus, ask questions and actively advocate for change in the community. WAFA is more than a club; it is a movement and support system.
“Our goal is to use our collective voice to advocate for better accessibility on campus,” Aviles said.
Whether students are facing challenges with professors, navigating inaccessible buildings or seeking a place to be heard, WAFA is there to listen and act.
“We’re here to fill in the gaps,” Ava McKinney-Taylor, a co-chair of WAFA, said. “Whether it’s helping students navigate difficult conversations with professors or housing staff or just giving them a place to be heard, WAFA is here to make things a little easier—and a lot more connected.”
Aviles started WAFA in her sophomore year at WWC after a friend with a blood pressure condition was denied a safety chair in the Stevenson bathrooms, despite repeated requests. The frustration led to the formation of WAFA. Besides support, WAFA offers a place for members to attend meetings with faculty and staff to advocate for accommodations or policy changes.
WAFA’s goal is to create a more inclusive and accessible campus, and beyond that, they want to shift attitudes and educate the community.
“A lot of ableism comes from ignorance,” Clements said. “People either ask invasive questions, or they avoid the topic entirely. We want people to feel comfortable talking about disability and learning from each other.”
WAFA has an ambitious future goal of launching a transportation option, such as a campus golf cart service to help students with mobility challenges get around. Although it may be a big undertaking, the group believes it is possible with persistence and teamwork.
For Aviles, WAFA is personal. She shared that she struggles with Lyme disease and mobility issues.
“I’ve always questioned whether I was ‘disabled enough’ to call myself disabled,” Aviles said. “But these things still affect my daily life, and that matters. Supporting others like me and the people I care about—that’s why WAFA is so important to me.”
WAFA has made meaningful progress. One of their wins was connecting with Amanada Morales, the new director of housing. Aviles has also had discussions with Gladfelter staff regarding food allergies and the lack of allergy-related information in the dining hall.
“Our current goal is just to make everything a little bit easier,” McKinney-Taylor said. “Starting a conversation with a professor about accommodations shouldn’t be scary. Getting a note on food allergens shouldn’t feel impossible.”
WAFA’s mission is about more than ramps and elevators. It is about building a culture of empathy and shared responsibility.
“Wilson prides itself on being a caring community,” Clements said. “We’re just here to help it live up to that promise.”
WAFA meets every Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Ransom House and tables in Gladfelter Dining Hall every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. You do not need to have a disability to join WAFA; WAFA welcomes allies and anyone who wants to help.