Show Handicapped accessibility problems exist on our campuses I What can be done to help David Canfield Pat Horgan Assistant Associate and Sports Editors the 91 1990 school year had the DURING highest population of disabled students in the state r of Utah According to Student Support Services there were approximately 1200 disabled students en en- rolled This number includes those with learning and emotional disabilities Regulations Section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states No otherwise qualified handicapped individual shall solely by reason of handicap be denied the benefits of or orbe orbe orbe be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance Later Section regulations written in 1977 state that colleges and universities receiving federal funds must make reasonable adjustments to permit handicapped handicapped handicapped hand hand- students to fulfill academic requirements and to assure that dis disabled ed students are not effectively excluded from programs because because use of the absence of auxiliary aids Over ver the last fast few years com compliance with this section in regards to the Sunken Lounge which currently is not wheelchair accessible has been in question due to the lack of ramps leading into the area According to Judd Morgan vice president for student services Weve looked at putting a ramp in there Its It's been looked at several times Morgan added however that putting a i ramp into the Sunken Lounge is not feasible due to the codes for the steepness and length of ramps The current standard which schools may voluntarily comply with states in regard to ramp that the slope should not be greater than a one foot rise every 12 feet or an 8 percent grade However one interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act would declare the Sunken Lounge accessible accessible accessible sible in that a person can see or hear everything that happens in the area V it 1 Problems i iOther Other problems are more pronounced Ramps on the outside of buildings are often slippery during the winter months The ramp directly south of the Technology Building has an extremely steep grade The facilities department at is aware that this ramp does not meet the 1 to 12 standard In order to help alleviate this problem has installed a hand rail to help disabled students enter and exit the building Yet many students with wheelchairs still have There are also students who have problems entering buildings due to the weight of doors Over the last two years has installed two electronic operated button-operated doors in the College Center and Administration buildings buildings buildings build build- ings to make it easier for disabled students to enter these buildings However because of the position of the buttons buttons buttons but but- tons these doors are difficult to use and require that a person back up and out of the path of the door after pushing the button Many physical education activities are inaccessible to I disabled students The weight room which is currently i located in the Administration Building was made accessible accessible sible within the last two years by installation of a wheelchair wheelchair wheelchair wheel wheel- chair elevator which lifts students up the stairs into the room This device is key operated and may be used only when an attendant is in the room A similar difficulty exists at South City Campus swimming swimming swimming swim swim- I ming pool The regular public entrance is not readily accessible In order for a disabled person to gain access to I Ithe the pool he or she must call before coming in order to assure that the accessible entrance going through the locker room will be open when he or she arrives Future Plans and Possible Modifications is currently working on proposals to install two more electronic doors Morgan said One will be installed installed installed in in- stalled in the Technology Building and the other in the Business Building The new Lifetime Activity Center is planned to be accessible accessible accessible sible to disabled students The new library will be accessible accessible accessible I sible and also equipped with a special room on one floor set aside for disabled students to use If a student experiences accessibility problems with a classroom it is possible to have a class moved According to o Morgan three classes were moved last school year to accommodate students' students needs We are willing to do anything necessary to accommodate disabled students Morgan said c I ow t 9 t. t j- j jr u. t-u. i t F 5 1 C J. J i tj V A r t t M J t i R e r t H. H tl tHO 1 1 According to the Americans with Disabilities Act Il I- I reasonable accommodations includes h. h R l L' L making 4 r making existing facilities used by employees readily n f dr OJ accessible ible to and usable by individuals with hand hand- r. r i v 1 tin A. A r i r 7 It fl t I iI I 1 p. p J l. L' L rf l. l t t r r. r J. J f r r. r fr y ki r rt t rii J x e f The south ramp from the Technology building is too for tor steep many handicapped students to utilize Hi t t F nIt 1 S j r oJ c 1 r 1 1 Y n rt J r 71 1 1 01 p pr r vo 1 r. r J 11 t y Jr r n I 9 df q art t I Ik k f ji i 1 Mi p 4 Jf t l' l 0 i d ar The Sunken Lounge a pia pla if sible due to the lack of a r ra H 0 |