There’s a new way for BYU-Idaho students to serve each other on campus. The Mobility Assistance program is a way to help individuals who have disabilities get to their classes or across campus.
“At BYU-Idaho there’s lots of hills,” said Mobility Assistance Manager Shaelee Angell. “Sometimes the weather’s bad and it’s icy, and for those people it can be really hard to push themselves in their wheelchairs or if they’re on crutches or something like that it can be hard to get to class on time. So, the program helps people like that to be able to get to class and to navigate campus.”
The program started around 2022 and is continuing to grow. The program has evolved over the years to become more convenient for the busy college students who volunteer.
“We’ve kind of revamped the program and made it so that there’s different supports in place to help the people even more,” Angell says, “ for example, we’ve put a substitute system in place, and so if the person who is signed up to help someone get to class is not able to do it, their substitute can come in and fill in for them.”
Angell says the program benefits those being served and also has a positive impact on those serving.
“Just do it! Please get involved! It’s such an exciting thing! You’ll definitely make friendships and have a really good time,” she said. “As one who used to volunteer to help, I can say that it definitely benefits the people involved.”
Any BYU-Idaho student can get involved. Those who don’t have a car to drive someone can help by pushing wheelchairs. To get involved in the Mobility Assistance program contact Shaelee Angell at 307-887-1599.