At disabilities forum, students air broad range of complaints

The university's disabled population faces a range of issues every day, from what more than 30 students, faculty and staff members called "disrespectful" employees to an "apathetic" administration at the annual Campus Forum on Disability Issues yesterday.

The hour-and-a-half-long discussion in McKeldin Library focused on everything from a lack of building access and transportation, to widespread insensitivity, to the frustrations the disabled community has with university administrators, to the length of time it takes to get changes made at the university.

Administrators who attended the forum blamed a tight budget and lack of resources for the delays in addressing student concerns but emphasized that serving the university's disabled population is, and will continue to be, a top priority.

Throughout the forum, students with disabilities brought up the difficulties they have experienced interacting with their professors. Several people called for mandatory sensitivity training for faculty and the inclusion of disabilities awareness programs for students.

Anthony Byrd, a senior government and politics major with speech and physical impairments, spoke of his impression that two or three of his professors are not happy he is in their classes. He said he felt disrespected when a professor addressed an issue about him to the director of the Disabilities Support Service, Jo Ann Hutchinson, instead of contacting him directly.

"I feel that some professors are very insensitive to students with disabilities," Byrd said. "I can take criticism. The university needs to have a course that teaches them that they can talk to us like they talk to any other person."

Nan Kaufman, the mother of a junior with disabilities, agreed classes and training sessions are needed. She added that able-bodied people are uncomfortable around those with disabilities and that some professors have valid questions and but do not how or where to ask them.

Two issues with transportation were also brought up repeatedly: Disabled students now have to pay for parking at the new pay stations, and handicap parking on the campus is limited.

There is a difference between convenience and necessity, and for some with mobility issues, driving is a necessity, said women's studies graduate student Angel Miles, who uses a wheelchair to get around.

David Allen, director of the Department of Transportation Services, agreed there needs to be more handicap parking and said DOTS plans to add more.

Allen also defended DOTS' decision to require those with disabilities pay for parking, citing other universities and cities that enforce the same policy. It is a matter of fairness, Allen said.

Gay Gullickson, chair of the President's Commission on Disabilities Issues and forum moderator, told Allen she refuses to accept that argument.

"It is the cost, not the accessibility to meters, that is the problem because driving is sometimes the only form of transportation available to [people with disabilities]," Gullickson said.

Kaufman and her son, junior American studies major Aaron Kaufman, brought up inaccessible buildings and the lack of visible signs as problems Aaron has experienced on the campus. Nan said after learning Aaron's wheelchair could not fit in Holzapfel Hall's small elevator, she had to buy three walkers for Aaron before finding one that could.

Aaron, who usually uses a wheelchair and has a visual disability, said accessing bathrooms in buildings like Holzapfel is often difficult, if not impossible. Signs designed to match the aesthetics of university buildings are often hard to see because they blend in easily, Aaron said, noting it is very difficult for him to discern which paths are accessible when he can't see the signs.

Earlier this semester, he fell out of his wheelchair because he was unable to tell the difference between a curb without curb cuts and one with, said Aaron.

"It is extremely difficult to find curb cuts, which can lead to accidents like mine and potential liabilities for the university," Aaron said.  

Leonard Azonobi, program planner for facilities management, walked around the campus with Aaron and his mother Tuesday in an attempt to better understand the difficulties some students with disabilities face.

"Each individual is different and so are their needs," Azonobi said. "We are trying to be accommodating to students and make the campus more accessible."

Lack of university initiative was a reoccurring accusation throughout the forum. Renovation delays on older buildings, inconsistencies in accessibility across the campus, a lack of professors with disabilities and a lack of programs designed to raise disabilities awareness were cited as examples of university unresponsiveness.

"I don't doubt the sincerity of the administration, but to me, the slow nature of their commitment is troubling," Aaron said.

Along with pushing for a change in the university's sloth-like pace in dealing with disabilities issues, students advocated for increased student awareness.

Miles spoke of her struggle to start a disabilities student union.

"There is an African American Student Union, Asian American Student Union, there is even a student group to celebrate high fives," Miles said. "There needs to be a demand from the students or else the university will continue to give the same old tired excuses."

desmarattes at umdbk dot com