Flash

Helping Clarkson better serve those with disabilities

Randy Brockway and his service dog Satch.
Randy Brockway and his
service dog Satch.

When he graduated from Clarkson in 1991 with a B.S. in Industrial Distribution (now iE&M), Randy Brockway was recognized as an excellent student. But Randy had also achieved a much rarer distinction: He was the only student ever to graduate from Clarkson while suffering from Friedreich's Ataxia, a progressive neuromuscular disease. He went on to work at the Independent Living Center in Massena, New York, as a peer counselor and architectural barriers consultant for more than a decade. Sadly, having fought the disease since age seven, Randy lost that battle on January 30, 2002.

In addition to his parents, Donna and Terry, Randy also left his sister, Robin Brockway Hurley '94; a brother-in-law, Thomas Hurley '93; and niece, Logan.

Clarkson's professional and administrative staff established a fund in memory of Randy. The Randy Brockway Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a student who demonstrates interest in rehabilitation engineering and/or physical therapy. The first scholarship recipient, Christopher Cormier, graduated in May 2005 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. The recipient of the 2005-2006 award, Jennifer Fraczek '07, is a psychology major enrolled in the Pre-Physical Therapy program.

"Randy Brockway set a wonderful example for all of us," says President Tony Collins. "It is most appropriate that his legacy lives on with a memorial award in an area where Clarkson can make a tremendous contribution to our society. Randy himself made a long-term contribution to our community by assisting the University in better addressing the physical needs of individuals with disabilities on campus."

"At Clarkson, Randy needed to use a wheelchair for the first time," recalls Donna Brockway, assistant to the dean and foreign student advisor in the graduate school. "By the time he enrolled, his speech and hands were affected, along with his spine." Clarkson accommodated his needs by having a roll-in shower and providing a roommate who also doubled as his aide and driver. He later lived with friends at Woodstock, where the maintenance staff made the apartment wheelchair accessible with a ramp. "All offices at Clarkson went out of their way to make Randy's day-to-day existence as normal as possible," she recalls.
 

After he graduated, Randy counseled others with disabilities and was also contracted to assess public and private buildings on their accessibility for those with disabilities. At the same time, Clarkson had established an ADA Committee whose mission is to "create a campus environment where all persons are viewed on the basis of ability, not disability, and ensure that all University programs and activities are accessible." Donna Brockway served on that committee and when she mentioned its goals to Randy, he volunteered to evaluate the campus and make recommendations. "Randy's time at Clarkson was very gratifying. This was his way to give back and to make life easier for future students," she says. Many of his recommendations were immediately acted upon, while others had to wait until funding became available.

Award winner Jennifer Fraczek began research in the rehabilitation area last summer by studying gait training for Multiple Sclerosis patients with PT Professor George Fulk. Fulk is trying to determine if training on a treadmill-like machine with a harness can help patients "re-learn" how to walk and maintain better muscle control. "Whether it is helping someone with Multiple Sclerosis, a burn patient, or an athlete who has been injured," says Jenn, "it is my hope to be in a profession that will facilitate rehabilitation."