Texas State Students Reflect On the ADA

by Holly Henrichsen

October is a time to raise awareness for many things and Texas State University just added another to the list. The college has declared October to be Disability History and Awareness Month.

Along with Disability History and Awareness Month, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by former President George H.W. Bush.

Kevin Talley
Photo by: Josh Czszeblewski

Many students feel like Texas State would be a less diverse place without the ADA. Grad student Kevin Talley said the campus would have been inaccessible without the ADA.

“It would be completely impossible for disabled students to use our campus. There would not be any options for them. Our buildings would be inaccessible.”

Texas State freshman Donevan Gonzales said that because of ADA requirements, the college is now more accessible than it was 25 years ago.

“The campus is now wheelchair friendly with an elevator in every building and ramps by or around staircases.”

The ADA requires accommodations for visible and non-visible disabilities. Some of these accommodations include ramps, elevators, fire alarms having audible and visible alarms and signs having visual and tactile characters.

Many people on campus use ADA required accommodations, like elevators and ramps, even if they do not have a disability that requires them to use it.

Evan Cruz
Photo by: Samuel Ramierz

“I sometimes use elevators to get to classes quicker. Also, it isn’t as physically demanding as taking the stairs” said 18-year-old Texas State freshman Evan Cruz.

Texas State Education major Emily Parma says Texas State being so accommodating to students with disabilities has enabled her to be more accepting of her visual impairment and how she identifies as a person with a disability.

While Texas State has overall been very good about complying with the ADA, Parma believes that there is more that the university could do to educate non-disabled students about disabilities.

Emily Parma
Photo by: Holly Henrichsen

“There are so many students who the ADA benefits but a lot of people don’t know anything about those disabilities or anything about the ADA” said Parma. “It’s just, ‘oh, acknowledge it’ and it’s acknowledged but it’s not educating people.”

For more information regarding the services offered by Texas State in relation to the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact the Office of Disability Services.