Texas State Celebrate 25 Years of the ADA

by Camille Shotts

This year marks the 25^th Anniversary of the inception of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the US, and October has been dubbed “Disability History and Awareness Month” by Texas State in recognition. The ADA has brought about much needed change to public spaces in the US, including mandatory access points for people living with physical disabilities and impairments, as well as improved services for those people. Texas State has implemented many measures in order to insure that its campus is accessible and inclusive for all people.

Texas State students feel the implementation of the ADA helps not just those with disabilities but the student body, and society, at large. “Education is an essential tool and skill in today's society,” said Elijah Iniekpo, a senior at Texas State. He said without the improvements made to the campus due to the ADA “it would limit society's expansion and create another form of inequality;” he even went so far as to call it a “violation of human rights."

Throughout the campus, Texas State is making a concentrated effort to adhere to the standards of the ADA with the improvement and updating of buildings on campus and the campus in general. “They're always adding ramps and upgrading things, hopefully that makes it easier for people with disabilities,” said Maura Goldfeder, nanny who provides professional care to a girl living with autism. While she admits that she’s not an expert on the specifics of the ADA, she says the world would “probably not (be) as easily accessible for individuals with physical disabilities,” without it. It’s clear that while the changes on campus weren’t made specifically for everyone, they do benefit us all in one way or another. From simple things like having the option of using an elevator to get to a class on the fifth floor or the benefits you get as a person living in a more culturally diverse community.

The ADA was signed into law on July 26^th, 1990 by President George HW Bush and has been amended multiple times since then. The further amending of the ADA only goes to prove the vital importance of this legislation.

The Texas State Office of Disability Services works hard to help students in whatever way they can, from coordinating Lifeguard Certification Events to offering specific test prep help to students with ADHD and ADD. They also offer a wide array of services for students living with physical impairments. Their office is in Suite 5-5.1 of the LBJ Student Center.