Jennifer Abbu This is Me

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1. 1. The South End Online

   www.southend.wayne.edu/days/ma - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/27/2002   Last Visited: 3/28/2002

   Jennifer Abbu, a WSU student with muscular dystrophy who uses a wheelchair, said she was neglected during a fire in the University Tower Apartments a few months ago, which has also happened to her in the past. WSU officials said building employees are supposed to assist students with disabilities in each of the universities' housing facilities.
   
   ...
   Jennifer Abbu, a 23-year-old student with muscular dystrophy, has been put in this situation a few times at the University Tower Apartments on Cass Avenue, including one just a few months ago.
   
   "I woke up at four in the morning to the sound of alarms going off. The fire was down the hall," said Abbu, junior social work major at Wayne State University. "They've said that somebody had left a pan on the stove and the bottom of it had burned.
   
   "The entire floor was full of smoke, but it wasn't thick smoke, it was just smelly."
   
   Already feeling alone and helpless, she soon became disappointed that no one thought to check on her.
   
   ...
   "You don't have to really know me to know that getting in and out of bed is a struggle," said Abbu, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at 11 and has been in a wheelchair since she was 13.
   
   Abbu said the most frightening thing is not knowing how serious each situation can be. She said she heard the repetitive drone of some type of recording, which terrified her even more.
   
   "I only heard that recording over and over again and I said, 'Oh, my God!' I freaked out," she said. "I called the front desk. I'm like, 'What's going on?' 'Oh, we'll call you back,' they said. So I hung up and I waited for someone to call me back and they didn't."
   
   Panic-stricken and shaking uncontrollably, Abbu crawled out of bed as the stench of smoke filled her nostrils.
   
   "I went out to the hall," she said. "I see policemen and firemen down the hall. I started to move up to them, and I saw them walking toward me. So I stopped. Little did I know I was in front of the door to the stairwell. So when the policemen and firemen are close to me, I'm thinking they're gonna tell me what's happening, or maybe help me ... and they said, 'Could you please move out of the way?'"
   
   One firefighter told Abbu that there was no problem and to go back to bed. But after all the trouble it took her to even get out of bed, she still wanted answers.
   
   After the elevators came back on, Abbu said she went down to the front desk and asked the employees to explain what had happened and why no one came to get her, like she was told they would.
   
   "I just looked at them and asked, 'Did you forget?' and they just said, 'Oh, we're sorry. It's no big deal. You can just go back to bed,'" she said.
   
   Although Abbu received assistance back to her apartment, she said she is still frustrated over being forgotten.
   
   "It could have been something way more serious," Abbu said. "What if there were five or 10 people like me. What would they do then?"
   
   Allan Johnson, manager of the University Tower Apartments, said officials have discussed the situation with Abbu and have reviewed their procedures.
   ...
   Abbu said she thinks the university should re-prioritize.
   
   "Wayne State had no idea what to do," she said. "They should stop trying to add things to the university; they should try to improve what's already here. They put up new structures, but I can't get out of the building, should there be an emergency."

2. 2. The South End Online

   www.southend.wayne.edu/days/ma - [Cached]

   Last Visited: 6/12/2002

   Jennifer Abbu, a WSU student with muscular dystrophy who uses a wheelchair, said she was neglected during a fire in the University Tower Apartments a few months ago, which has also happened to her in the past. WSU officials said building employees are supposed to assist students with disabilities in each of the universities' housing facilities. (Story)
   
   No government budget cuts for Wayne St. line.gif (1107 bytes) U.S. to broaden its Colombian Aid soon line.gif (1107 bytes)

3. 3. The South End Online$

   www.southend.wayne.edu/days/21 - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/15/2001   Last Visited: 8/4/2001

   At the same time Jennifer Abbu , a junior social work major , is hoping the three- member group she leads now will grow.
   
   ...
   Abbu is actually in the process of restarting the Disabled Student Organization , which dissolved over a year ago.
   
   The group had its first meeting last Thursday.
   
   Abbu said two other students came to the meeting.
   
   Abbu uses a wheelchair because she has Freidriech's Ataxia - a form of Muscular Dystrophy that disrupts her balance , coordination and bi-motor skills.
   
   Educational Accessibility Services has been helping Abbu since she came to WSU four years ago. Abbu said it was people at the office who recommended she restart the group.
   
   They've helped me with so much and just recently they asked me to lead this , Abbu said.
   
   Abbu said the group will be a social group , but she also wants the members to actively pursue the interests of those with disabilities.
   
   Abbu stressed that the group was not just for students with disabilities.
   
   It's for everyone because I want them to see the world through our eyes , Abbu said. I want them to know what it's like to be sitting in a wheel chair and trying to open a heavy door.
   
   I want them to get just as mad as we are about changing it..