ADA at Texas State

ADA at Texas State

By Dan Patino

In the late eighties, a proposal by the legislature to assist disabled citizens passed, creating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at the start of the new decade. Marking its 25^th year of success in the lives of many limited mobility individuals. This bill allowed for disabled Americans with both invisible and visible disabilities no not be discriminated against. The work place infrastructure was accommodated and the work place atmosphere change for the better.

On the Texas state campus we see this in many different forms. From having new automatic doors to the rails and ramps placed throughout campus, the effects of the act are prevalent.  This October launches Texas states Disability History and Awareness month in which we promote a better understanding of the difficulties several people face. Here at Texas State we are located in central Texas where the physical geography is dominated by rocky tough terrain and steep hills. This means that those who are unable to walk have an increased difficulty on campus

“I think those in need of ADA assistance would not physically be able to attend Texas State.  There are so many hills and stairs that it would be almost impossible for the students unable to climb the stairs to get across campus,” Desire Sack said

The Office Disablity Services (ODS) here on campus allows for student testing to be done sperately or at different times if there is ever a reason why a student can not make it to a time sensative assignment or exam due to a dissability.

Another student felt confident of the work being done by the university in ensuring the necessary access point for students.

Photo of Desire Sack

                                                                                                                

“The construction by flowers looks good, there looks like there is going to be more ramps like the ones next to UAC”, said Israel Fava, an engineering management major.

When asked how what are some of the ways the university has changed since the implementation of the act 25 years ago Donevan Gonzales, a native here in the hill country of central Texas said,

Photo of Donevan Gonzales

"Before the Americans with Disabilities Act I would assume it was harder for people living with disabilities to navigate around campus with the various amounts of hills the campus has been built on. The campus is now wheelchair friendly with an elevator in every building and ramps by or around staircases."

Although Texas State has made the appropriate accommodations to old buildings and has implemented designs for the further construction to help those who cannot navigate the hills as well, It still has room for improvement.