The University is an old campus with old buildings constructed long before disability access ever became an issue.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 stirred up controversy about the needs of individuals with a disability, not until recently has the University made disability access a priority.
In response to increased awareness of disability access on campus, concerned students and administrative leaders last year established the Campus Access Site Team.
The committee, chaired by Disability Services Assistant Director Benjamin Cornwell, began important moves to locate and address specific areas of campus in need of attention.
“The University has many access problems and minimal amounts of funding to address it,” Cornwell said.
Last semester, the Athletic Department handed over a $6 Spring Sports fee to former Student Government President Patrick McCune for reallotment.
Knowing the University lacked in ADA compliance, McCune proposed a resolution to the administration for $2.50 of the fee to fund improved disability access on campus. The University will use this portion of the Spring Sports Fee money for an Equal Access Fee, which will make the campus more accessible for students with disabilities.
The fee also is divided into a $2.50 Student Initiatives Fee and a $1 Recycling Fee.
At the time McCune proposed the fee, Emmert said the idea pleased him, and he agreed to match the student’s money with funds from the University’s budget. He also planned to encourage the state to match that total to quadruple the money. Emmert since has worked with state officials to increase disability access funding.
CAST also decided to show students without a disability why disability access is such an important issue. During the spring semester, CAST members held an event for students to try maneuvering around campus in wheelchairs.
The event raised awareness of the issue on a student level, said committee member Jason Dore.
Last summer, CAST members began “zoning” the campus — mapping out areas that posed difficulty for students with disabilities.
CAST member Nancy Malone said main concerns for the committee were areas where bushes, fences or concrete posts obstructed pathways and where ramps were not present.
The first goal of CAST was to focus on external areas of campus so that students with a disability could get from the parking lots to specific buildings, Malone said.
Because of CAST efforts, areas around CEBA and Tureaud are near completion and ADA compliance.
Cornwell said the next areas of interest are the more than 20 sites in the Quad where disability access is poor.
During the break between the fall and spring semesters, Facility Services will begin construction on those areas, Cornwell said.
“Ultimately our goal is to get into buildings [and begin construction there], but that will take some time,” he said.
SG President Darrell Broussard hopes efforts of CAST will continue into next semester and that ADA compliance will be a top priority for any new construction or renovations on campus.
“I hope awareness continues to grow and that we are able to secure more funding to move closer to our goal,” Broussard said.
Cornwell said although funding from the Spring Sports Fee and matching funds from the administration and the state has helped initiatives for ADA compliance, full compliance for the University will be costly.
Doré said a big concern is that disability access will fade away as an issue.
“A lot of times the administration responds when students take the time to get things done; [because of this,] disability access is in high need of leadership,” Doré said.
However, Cornwell said if students continue to show support for disability access and CAST’s efforts, access problems on campus can be resolved.
“This does need to continue to be a student-driven initiative because there now are individuals on campus who are concerned,” Cornwell said.