Equal Access for All
takers, classroom relocation, access to special technology and other services; and the Office of Facilities and Plant Operations ensures compliance with ADA regulations for pathways, parking and buildings.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act that established a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability and provided enforceable standards for addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities. In 2008, President George W. Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 that broadened protections and expanded the list of major life activities covered by the ADA.
According to Tim Delaney, director of services for students with disabilities, advances in technology have greatly improved access to higher education. “Our office has a variety of equipment that allows students to enlarge print for easier readability and translate text to Braille, and provides listening devices that allow the instructor to speak into a microphone that students with hearing disabilities hear through a special receiver. We also provide access to special telephones, transcribing services, note takers, interpreters and testing services.”
The ADA applies to employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation and telecommunications. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered. For a public university, providing equal opportunities to participate in all aspects of university life applies to students, employees and visitors. And it is an ongoing challenge. Three McNeese offices share responsibility for compliance with the ADA and work together to provide access and reasonable accommodations. The ADA coordinator works primarily with employees and visitors; the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities assists students by providing academic adjustments such as extended testing time, note
Delaney works with offices involved in the enrollment process to provide information about these services to incoming students and encourages students needing accommodations to notify McNeese as early as possible to ensure adequate time to determine the appropriate academic adjustment. Students are not required to register with the OSSD to enjoy access to the campus or programs, but registering with the office is encouraged. “We can provide priority class registration to students receiving services from our office,” Delaney explained. “We advise our students to consider certain factors when creating their class schedule that include building and classroom locations, the time between classes and the distance between class locations, elevator access, location of emergency evacuation routes, accessible seating and restroom facilities.” Currently more than 140 students are registered with the OSSD. McNeese is also required to follow specific architectural standards
in new construction and in the renovation or alteration of existing buildings. Richard Rhoden, director of facilities and plant operations, says it takes vigilance and communication to interpret the ADA regulations and ensure that contractors comply with the standards. “Two members of the staff have completed extensive training on the ADA standards for facilities and we are training other members of the staff,” Rhoden said. “It is important for us to know and understand the details of the standards so we can ensure that our construction and renovation projects meet the requirements.” Currently underway is a project to create campus-wide accessible pathways between all buildings and parking lots. This includes creating or correcting accessible parking, constructing wheelchair ramps and correcting sidewalk slopes, modifying handrails and installing directional signage. Numerous interior changes have improved access to buildings, classrooms, restrooms and other services. The recently redesigned and upgraded quadrangle in the center of campus includes paved pathways and accessible benches. Renovations to Frazar Memorial Library, Kaufman Hall and Frasch Hall are slated to begin soon and will include ADA modifications and upgrades. An extensive renovation to the Doland Athletic Field House is nearly complete and will bring that building into compliance, Rhoden said. “All of these renovations and modifications are part of a comprehensive plan to improve access for all students, employees and visitors,” Rhoden said. 5