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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1972)
Negotiating the campus: a sometimes difficult task for handicapped students By JOHN KNOWLTON Of the Emerald Viewed from a wheelchair, the world of a campus university is a world of frustration It is a world of confusion for a student without sight For a student with a cardiac problem, a university can be a world of strain and peril Early-day planners of educational facilities did not consider the many problems that face handicapped students. The buildings and facilities were in variably planned with the average student in mind the student with eyesight and use of limbs. The problems facing handicapped students are numerous. Laboratory stations were constructed at a height for the average student, not for the student in a wheelchair or for a student with braces who would normally have to sit. Buildings were designed with steep stairways and narrow heavy doors. Even on today’s campuses, elevator buttons and levers on vending machines can be too high Room numbers are usually tacked above the door to a classroom. The visibly handicapped student would have to be abnormally tall and have extremely sensitive fingers to “read” the numbers. These are just a few of the architectural barriers that can be found on most cam puses across the nation. The situation here at the University, however, is better than most. Concern about the architectural barriers on campus has been brewing for some time. Some 15or more years ago studies of University buildings pointed out many drawbacks to accessibility. But change has been slow. One of those earlier studies pointed out that most of the buildings were inac cessible because of stairways, lack of handrails, heavy doors and facilities that were not designed for those in wheelchairs, in braces, or without sight. Harold Babcock, Physical Plant director, feels that most of the built-in barriers in the existing buildings can be modified to some extent. And, he says, these can be done at a minimal ex penditure. Ramps on street curbs and to buildings need not cost much, he points out. Han drails to assist students who wear or thopedic braces, who have arthritis, or who are spastic are relatively inexpensive. It is difficult for the average student to conceive of what it is like to be han dicapped. They have never felt the con fusion of living in a world of darkness, nor have they felt the frustration that grows with being confined to a wheelchair. They cannot identify with the emotional and physical problems that handicapped students have. Judy Bogen, assistant dean of students has contributed much of her time and energy in attempting to solve the problems of the handicapped students on campus. In 1970, Bogen was assigned to help the handicapped students go through registration. She eased the registration process so much for these students that they started turning to her with other problems. Through her work with the handicapped Bogen has become aware that most handicapped students want “to do” for themselves. Independence is important to them, she said. This is particularly true of the student who has been handicapped over a long period of time. The recently handicapped have different problems. These students are not familiar with the campus itself and know few people well enough to ask for help. So they turn to Bogen for help. Bogen makes a special effort to keep track of these students to determine their problems and to see what can be done to solve them. Many students are not even aware that they have a handicap. “A lot of times we don’t know about a handicap until the students themselves find out about it,” she said. These kinds of handicaps include epilepsy, sudden asthma attacks and even the numerous leg injuries that occur during skiing season, said Bogen. Other students have cardiac problems. Some are on potent medication and need classes scheduled accordingly. One student is attending classes that are arranged so that he will not be in a congested area where he might be jostled in some way. He carries a bullet in his brain. The fall of 1971 saw the organization of the Oregon Architectural Barriers Committee (OABC)—a statewide com mittee set up to promote the removal of all barriers to handicapped persons. This committee is composed of vocational rehabilitation people, University and Lane Community College officials and all other persons interested in helping the han dicapped. Chris Casady, a 22-year-old quadraplegic, is an active member of OABC. He is enthusiastic about the committee and the possibilities for han dicapped students in the future. “OABC is a good thing,” said Chris, “and it’s getting off the ground and it’s going to go somewhere.” Photo by Phil Waldstein Although Susan Maltby, second year graduate student in Spanish, negotiates these steps in front of Prince Lucian Campbell easily, curbs and steps can sometimes prove difficult for visually han dicapped persons. “People are really receptive and we haven’t met any resistance so far,” he said. "I feel that people are getting more turned on to other people’s problems and less turned on to themselves.” People like Bogen and Babcock have the right idea said Chris. “They see that, not only will a barrier-free campus help the 100 or so handicapped students now, but it will help thousands of them in the future,” he said. Babcock is particularly interested in making education available to han dicapped students. He gained expertise in dealing with handicapped students at an Eastern barrier-free University. “He makes all of the modifications on campus because he is aware of the need.” said Bogen of Babcock. Babcock is responsible for the recent addition of several ramps on street curbs. These ramps were not put in only for bicycle riders, but also for the han dicapped students who are confined to a wheelchair. Babcock is also careful to assure that newly constructed buildings on campus are totally accessible to handicapped students Making a building completely accessible during construction is much less expensive than converting the already existing buildings to accessibility, points out Babcock. Other University personnel are equally concerned about the barriers that face handicapped students and are willing to do what they can to help. Marjory Ramey, dormitory complex director, has done much to make the dormitories a more convenient and pleasant place for the handicapped to live. Dick Reynolds and Adell McMillan of the EMU administrative staff have worked to make the Student Union accessible. Handicapped students on campus receive cooperation not only from University personnel, but also from other students. Susan Maltby, a 24-year-old blind student, is in her second year of her Masters degree in Spanish. The cooperation she receives from other students is never ending, she says. “I don’t care what some people say, I think people are still basically good. The other students on campus give me all the help I could ever need." she said. “Occassionally I even get more help than I need, but I still appreciate it," she said. Susan, like many handicapped students, feels the need for independence “I like to walk to class with some classmates because I enjoy their com pany,” says Susan, “but 1 also want to be able to do it on my own just in case they might be sick or something." Even sidewalks sometimes prove to be somewhat of a problem to Susan. “I have a class in Villard Hall and I was trying to learn how to get in the building. I didn't really know when to turn on the sidewalk because there weren’t any definite changes in the angle or com position of the sidewalk," she said “Even a definite bump or crack from where one sidewalk takes off from another would be helpful,” she said Problems such as this one are typical of the ones handicapped students face. The current situation at the University is that 11 buildings are fully accessible to handicapped students such as Chris and Susan. These fully accessible buildings include the Health Center, Library, Science Buildings, Clinical Services, Law Center and the EMU. Journalism, mathematics, speech? Nearly impossible if the classes are given in Allen, Deady, or Villard halls, or unless tutors are available. Given all of the architectural barriers on campus, the University is good, compared with other schools and getting better because people make it so. However the most important thing, according to Bogen, "is not who gets all the credit, but that the handicapped students get a chance to get an education." Deady llall proves to be too steep for Chris Casady. 22-year-old CSPA major. BACKPACKING EQUIPMENT We carry a full line of packs, sleeping bags and accessories Expert service too. Come in and talk with us. OUTDOOR RESOURCE CENTER SALES RENTALS CONSIGNMENT EMU Rm. 21 X 3089 TAKE A Off Mill-Race canoe DIKED TDIDi rentals $3 a day + insurance) NIVEIf InlrS For information, x 3711 Canoe or kayak on the COOL OFF 1 Mill Race * 75 cents & SO cents an hr. respectively + insurance E.M.U. CANOE SHACK OPEN 7 DATS A WEEK h til 7:30 pm NOW WE CAN “REPAIR” “JOGGING SHOES” For a fraction of tho now prico your old jogging •hoot can bo at good at now! • Foclory mo'en'ols used • AM vvcrli <iuoron'efd • Re-sole k repair oil types men's k women s 1°9S' ’9 'lioes • Insoies available JIM THE SHOE DOCTOR 849 Oliv** / Possibly the most unobtrusive building on campus is the conoe shack on the Millrace. ' The canoe shack is there but according to Roger Bronks, assistant manager of the EMU Recreation Program, being unable to find it seems to be the problem of a lot of people. The thing to remember is the footbridge to Autzen Stadium: the canoe shack is right beside it. Some people know where the canoe shack is but not why it's there. Canoes and kayacs available there for rental. They are rented by the hour on the Millrace, but the canoes % also be rented for frips off the Millrace at daily and weekly rates. Incidentally, with new underpass being constructed, portage to the river will be easier than ever. f Even if they can find the canoe shack, many people worry about never having used a canoe before. Thei Outdoor Program has an answer for that, too. Weekend trips, with supervised instruction take place almost every weekend that weather permits. Anyone may join the group and learn to handle a canoe or kayac well enough to feel confident at I taking one down the Millrace alone. L The Canoe shack is open every day that it \ doesn't rain until 7:30. Plans are in the works A to arrange moonlight rentals with lanterns attached to the canoes; perhaps by the end ot the term and into summer. On the Millrace, canoes are rented tor /5 cents an hour, $3.00 per day, and $15 per week. A trailer which will carry 6 canoes may be rented for $2.50 a day. Car racks and life jackets are provided free with the rental of canoes and kayacs. For off millrace rentals there is a dollar insurance. If there is a demand and funds become available, the administrators of the recreation program plan to increase the size of their fleet as well as construct a new, larger shack that is presently being planned. Thc*t'|l make it easier to find in the future. Meanwhile, if you want to have some fun, cool off and talk to the ducks ... it really isn't that hard to find. CANOE ^ 345-301 1 ^_— THESIS C0PTIH6 f WEDDIHG INVITATIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS L RUBBER STAMPS TTPINC 4< XEROX COPIES 2.75« for 100 OFFSET COPIES (LijeCopp^oopf _11»» Alder ° U\ <141 * _f> ADDRESS LABELS BIRDINfi RESUMES BUSINESS CARDS Hour*-9 to 9 Monday mm inursoay; o to o on rrioay ano m to d on sarnraay L Max Factor Hair Spray Bonnie Bell "Spray -a-Wave 1006 Lotion 3/$l psP,ri"9 Pint Sale Reg. >55" Sale s3’5 .i^/TA*# *EK£ ^ ..--■' .- _ |m| 960 Oak SI. — Under the Overpark /VJ 11 Across Oak (rom Medical Center Parking Lot. Bills Have You Down? Consolidate at U-LANE-0 Federal Credit Union Serving University and State Employees in Lane County 342-3358 503 E 11th