Texas State University has declared October Disability History and Awareness Month. This declaration comes just in time for the 25th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
People may not know, but ADA regulations affect you even if you are not disabled. If you use ramps and elevators, you're affected by the ADA. The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act is to provide equal opportunities, services and accommodations in the work place and in places open to the public to people with disabilities. This message is echoed by the Office of Disability Services at Texas State.
Clint-Michael Reneau, director of the Office of Disability Services, has a goal to make Texas State inclusive to all people.
"The ODS maintains and cultivates a culture of care through our interactions with you. We want you to know that we see you, we hear you and that your thoughts and experiences matter to us and help to frame your experiences within the university," Reneau said, on the Director Greetings page of the ODS site.
Photo from The Office of Disabilities webpage
A few of the services offered by the ODS are assistive technology, counseling and Cats on the Go.
Cats on the Go is a transportation system for students with temporary disabilities. For students like Allison Tagloff, this is an invaluable resource. Tagloff has to wear a boot on her foot from a pulled tendon in her ankle, and thanks to ADA regulations and the Office of Disability Services, was granted temporary disability.
"Without it, [ADA] I could have not been granted temporary disability and I wouldn't have accommodations, and professors could easily not care about my ankle and count me late to class anyway," Tagloff said when asked if she is personally affected by the ADA.
Photo provided by Allison Tagloff
"However I do think that the campus is not completely ADA friendly in the sense that the ramps are way off route from a typical walk across campus and are not all easy to find," Sack said.
Photo provided by Desirae Sack
The construction that has been going on around campus affects the routes for people with disabilities, but the university is making sure that they still meet ADA regulations. Unfortunately, because of all the hills and construction on campus, it can be quite difficult for people who need ramps and other ADA services to find their route to class. Once they do find it, it can still be quite tedious to make so many turns up the ramps.
Despite this, there seems to be a general consensus from those interviewed that Texas State does an adequate job in complying with the ADA.
However, if anyone has any concerns about the ADA regulations on campus, they can give feedback to the ODS.
Ultimately, the Office of Disability Services is an inclusive environment that strives to assist all of Texas State's students. The Americans with Disabilities Act has created help for those with and without disabilities. Texas State strives to do the same, as evidence by the Office of Disability Services and their decision to dedicate an entire month to the awareness and history of disabilities.
No comments:
Post a Comment