The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on the Texas State Campus

By: Victoria E. Beeler

As we observe the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act it’s important for students of all walks to recognize what the college campus might be like if the ADA failed to exist.

The ADA was enacted under George Bush’s presidency in 1990. The goal of the law was to prohibit discrimination based on disability. According to CNN, the law required restaurants, schools, offices, etc. to have wheelchair ramps, elevators, lowered drinking fountains and enlarged toilet stalls, just to name a few examples.

Nicholas Lambeth - Photo by Victoria Beeler

After speaking with students on campus, it is evident that many don’t really realize the impact that the ADA has on campus life. While talking with Nicholas Lambeth, senior marketing major from Austin, Texas, it became clear that he hadn’t ever really thought about all the things that the university does for students with disabilities. “I’m sure (the university) has increased the amount of ramps,” said Lambeth. He came to the conclusion that the university would be much less accommodating and tolerant if the ADA had never been enacted.

Junior special education major from Round Rock, Texas Emily Parma noted that the university could do more to raise awareness. "I feel like they could help in educating non-disabled students about it more because 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,” Parma said. She thinks that educating the non-disabled student body would help to end the stigma of those with disabilities. Parma also said, ”there is disability awareness week or month but I feel like there's no education that goes along with that. It does just, ‘oh, acknowledge it' and it's acknowledged but it's not educating people."

Emily Parma - Photo by Holly Henrichsen

In conjunction to the ADA anniversary, Texas State’s Office of Disability Services (ODS) has declared the month of October to be Disability Awareness Month on campus. One of their main goals is to increase awareness across campus of disabled veterans and people with visual disabilities, as well as invisible disabilities. One way the ODS is helping to promote awareness is with a “Dinner in the Dark: A Look into Visual Disabilities”. According to their events page, students can RSVP for a “dinner experience and honest conversations about individuals with visual disabilities.”

Donevan Gonzales - Photo by Dezmond Jabroe-Moore

Donevan Gonzales, freshman computer science from Pflugerville, Texas recognizes a benefit that all students get to experience from the enactment of the ADA. “The campus would not be as diverse as it is now since not all people would be able to navigate the campus,” said Gonzales.

Diversity is something that most everyone can agree is a good thing. According to the UN, 10% of the world population is disabled, making it the largest minority group across the globe.