By
Christopher Soliz
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President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on the
South Lawn of the White House on July 26, 1990. Barry Thumma/AP
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Silver is the typical 25-year anniversary gift, and silver
is the medal Texas State gets for its compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, known simply as the ADA.
The ADA is not so simple, however, and covers a broad
spectrum of anti-discrimination rules for public and private places to follow.
With the passing of the ADA, accessibility actually became accessible to people
living with disabilities. Ramps and elevators helped people with disabilities
reach new heights and people with invisible disabilities gained access to care
and attention that made them feel less invisible.
“It provides security for people that do have disabilities,”
said Crystal Cohen, a junior nutrition major.
At Texas State it’s almost impossible to walk around the
hilly, stair-filled campus without seeing some form of ADA-compliant access
point. For students like Elijah Iniekpo, a senior political science major, it’s
hard to imagine Texas State without the ADA.
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| Naomi Faltin Photo by Samuel Kelly |
“Prior to 1990, this campus would’ve limited the output of
teaching professionals,” Iniekpo said. “Today, it wouldn’t have the inclusion
of the creative and innovative minds that originate from all students.”
Texas State’s Office of Disability Services goes a long way
to make sure that all students have access to the same quality of education.
Naomi Faltin, a junior public relations major, said the office was very helpful
to those who come in seeking accommodations for classes and tests.
Over the years, the definition of disability has been
broadened to include mental or ‘invisible’ disabilities as well. The Office of
Disability Services also addresses these types of disabilities with
accommodations, such as having someone come in to type out a lecture for a
student with a hearing disorder.
“Texas State does a wonderful job of accommodating people
with disabilities,” said Allison Tagloff, a senior English major. “The
university has tons of programs that both help and include people with
disabilities.”
Tagloff, on temporary disability after an ankle injury, said
without the accommodations for students living with disabilities and the pride
it takes on being a diverse campus, it would be like Texas State not practicing
what they preach.
This all seems gold medal worthy, but the geography of the
campus makes traversing Texas State difficult even with the abundance of
accommodations.
“This campus is already not disability friendly, especially
with wheelchairs” said Victoria Davila, a sophomore chemistry major. “If there
are ramps, they are crowded with a bunch of other students.”
Besides non-disabled students crowding the ramps, the
location of the ramps is an issue.
“Texas State does a great job complying with the ADA,” said
junior Desirae Sack. “However I do think 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.”
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| Emily Parma Photo by Holly Henrichsen |
While Texas State tries to keep up with its growing student
body and stay up to ADA-par, students like Emily Parma, a junior special
education major, feel like there’s still more that we have to do and learn.
“There is a disability awareness week or month but I feel
like there’s no education that goes along with that,” Parma said. “It’s just,
‘Oh, acknowledge it,’ and it’s acknowledged but it’s not educating people.”
All in all, Texas State does its best to promote equality
and accommodate its students to make sure they get a quality education. Maybe
with more time and innovation, that silver will turn to gold.
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