MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, MI - For Katie Feirer, because of her cerebral palsy, moving away from home was a harder choice than for most.

" I was at first like afraid to live by myself because I didn't know how independent I could be," she says.

"Whereas before I would always rely on my parents to do certain things for me and now I don't have to have that," she adds.

This new found independence comes in large part as a result of how accessible her living arrangements and the campus of Michigan State University are to her specific needs.

Feirer says, "My apartment now is more accessible than my own house."

Feirer lives in Van Hoosen Hall, her apartment comes with modifications to her kitchen, bathroom, and other rooms. The University is pretty accessible to those with disabilities.still there are some areas off limits to her.

" There is certain buildings that are actually marked on an MSU map that I cant get into, and if I were to have a class in one of those, they would have to move it."

While MSU makes independence possible through accessibility, Communities like East Lansing and Meridian Township are a little more limited as to what they provide those with handicaps.

They are required to meet accessibility requirements laid out by the 2012 Michigan Building Code, and the Michigan Rehabilitation code as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Richard Bolek, Building Inspector for Meridian Township says," The requirements for ADA originally went into effect in 1990 and were amended again in 2009 so those amendments and the requirements for barrier free accessibility have been in place since. "

Not only must all new buildings meet accessibility requirements, but old buildings are required to remodel in order to meet the codes assuming it doesn't pose an unreasonable expense.

Some of the adaptions made to public buildings include ramps, elevators, and handicap bathroom stalls all of which are reviewed at the time of the building permit submittal.

As far as any complaints regarding accessibility in buildings. Boleks says, "if someone has a complaint on an existing building they would go to the department of justice to file a complaint."

While not every public space offers the same level of accessibility, there are requirements when it comes to making public spaces and certain housing accessible to people with disabilities. It is through these building adaptions that people like Katie Feirer can lead more independent lives as a part of the community.