A group of Student Government senators wants to increase disability awareness on campus and form a commission that will oversee University compliance with disability laws.
The senators — Speaker of the Senate Brandon Smith, College of Education Sen. Meleah Jensen and College of Arts and Sciences Sen. Jay Moore — will propose a bill tonight that, if passed, would ask the University to create the University Commission on Disability Compliance that would further the efforts of the Campus Access Site Team.
Smith said the commission will take the work of CAST — a team that addresses disability complaints on a case-by-case basis — a step further by working toward total Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, which would require changes in technology, zoning and education of disability issues on campus.
In the bill, the senators say “the University has a responsibility to increase awareness around issues of disability education and compliance,” which they hope the proposed commission will do.
Smith said administrators, staff and possibly students will sit on the commission.
Jensen, who is blind, said she is glad the Senate will finally vote on the bill. She said she is “sorry that it took this long.”
“It hits very close to home,” Jensen said.
Philip Dunham, a business junior who moves around in a wheelchair, said he thinks the commission is a good idea.
“Maybe it would put some pressure on [University administrators] to do a little more,” Dunham said.
But Dunham said he has seen some improvements over the past year in accessibility.
Amanda Turner, a psychology senior who also moves around in a wheelchair, said she is excited about the commission because it will get new people other than Disability Services involved with disability issues.
“The more awareness the better,” Turner said.