Yuba College Not Accessible?
Despite ADA, Campus Obstacles Remain
Nic Boren
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News
DSPS learning disabilities specialist, Therese Hukill-DeRock stated "There are some unresolved issues with students that have wheelchairs or have difficulty getting around campus with regards to opening doors and getting around the furnished class rooms. Some of the older classrooms have smaller desks and chairs and students that have back problems have difficulty sitting in the chairs."
Carolyn Akers, the Adaptive Physical Education instructor spoke on how the recent budget cuts would affect her program. Carolyn hires paid student "Adaptive Aids" through the DSPS Funding. DSPS funds she is unable to hire any students for the 2009 academic year. This is a loss of jobs for students who have been working with the disabled for many semesters.
When asked about the relatively new Adaptive P.E. Gym Carolyn presented the scratches on the hallway walls and the doors where people in wheels chairs have tried to squeeze through. "Some thresholds in the doorways are higher than they should be, and radius of the doors' swing is not large for wheel chairs to be adequately accessible." She also mentioned that they left out double doors and a large enough path to move equipment safely around.
Any institution that receives federal funding has to be in compliance with the American Disabilities Act. ADA became law in 1990 and prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Joanna Frost stated that, "We comply with The Americans with Disabilities Act and Workforce and Rehabilitation act of 1973. We are on the technology committee of Yuba Community campus to insure that the infrastructure includes access to students with disabilities."
And the California Education Code states "Students with disabilities shall be assisted to participate whenever possible in the regular educational programs in the District...The services to be provided include, but are not limited to, reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, accessible facilities, equipment, instructional programs, rehabilitation counseling and academic counseling…"
Carolyn Akers, the Adaptive Physical Education instructor spoke on how the recent budget cuts would affect her program. Carolyn hires paid student "Adaptive Aids" through the DSPS Funding. DSPS funds she is unable to hire any students for the 2009 academic year. This is a loss of jobs for students who have been working with the disabled for many semesters.
When asked about the relatively new Adaptive P.E. Gym Carolyn presented the scratches on the hallway walls and the doors where people in wheels chairs have tried to squeeze through. "Some thresholds in the doorways are higher than they should be, and radius of the doors' swing is not large for wheel chairs to be adequately accessible." She also mentioned that they left out double doors and a large enough path to move equipment safely around.
Any institution that receives federal funding has to be in compliance with the American Disabilities Act. ADA became law in 1990 and prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Joanna Frost stated that, "We comply with The Americans with Disabilities Act and Workforce and Rehabilitation act of 1973. We are on the technology committee of Yuba Community campus to insure that the infrastructure includes access to students with disabilities."
And the California Education Code states "Students with disabilities shall be assisted to participate whenever possible in the regular educational programs in the District...The services to be provided include, but are not limited to, reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, accessible facilities, equipment, instructional programs, rehabilitation counseling and academic counseling…"
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JaxS
JaxS
posted 4/08/08 @ 12:52 AM PST
I was just curious as to whether or not this story was proofread or not; on the headline in the paper, the girl's name is spelled "Betty" but within the article it's "Bettie". (Continued…)
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