Handicapped resource center receives delayed report
By Mike Rose
Of The Print
Although it’s two years
late, an audit of the College’s
services and facilities for han
dicapped students has finally
been released by the Depart
ment of Health and Welfare
(formerly the Department of
Health, Education and
Welfare).
The purpose of the study
was to see how well the Col
lege was complying with
federal regulation 504, design
ed to protect the rights of han
dicapped persons.
The College, after doing a
“Handicapped Self-Evaluation
Study” in June, 1978, re
quested an in-depth investiga
tion by HEW. By law, accom
modations for handicapped
students must be made, such
as handicapped access and
special, education programs.
The team of HEW in
vestigators conducted the
survey on campus the week of
Jan. 30, 1980, and had pro
mised to release its findings
within 90 days; HEW
representatives told the College
that the study was late because
of personnel cutbacks and
other priorities.
According to the study,
the College must make some
improvements. College ad
ministrator, Lee Fawcett, assis
tant dean of support services,
said these improvements will
cost the College “under
$5,000.”
One improvement the
College will have to make is in
the wheelchair ramp to the Stu
dent Health Center. The ramp
is a steep, straight incline,
without a level spot at the top.
“It’s hard for a person in a
wheelchair to open the door to
the Health Center, and at the
same time keep himself from
rolling backwards down the
ramp,” Fawcett said.
Another barrier that the
College will have to remove is
the loose gravel pathways in
the greenhouse. The pathways
are difficult for wheelchair
travel.
The showers in Randall
Hall pose another access pro
blem: The threshold lip is cur
rently too high for a wheelchair
to roll over. Also, grab bars to
allow a handicapped person to
stand in the showers will have
to be installed to meet the
federal regulations.
The HEW study noted
that the information on han
dicap services in the College
catalog was too general and
will have to be rewritten in
more specific language,
Fawcett said.
Since the Pauling Center
was not completed when the
team of HEW investigators
were on campus in 1980, the
building was not included in the
study. However, Fawcett said
the building meets federal
regulations. He added, “They
made it clear that the study on
ly included existing construc
tion in January of 1980.”
At present, no plans are
being made for another audit
by the health and welfare
department of the Pauling
Center’s handicapped access.
Debbie Bennett of the
Handicapped Resource Center
said that when HEW in
vestigators were on campus to
present the findings of the 504
compliance study last
February, “They didn’t even
want to go over and look at the
Pauling Center. The only way
that would happen is if a com
plaint was filed with their
office,” she said.
Bennett said the College is
already very accessible for han
dicapped students, but after the
compliance study recommen
dations are made, the campus
will be completely accessible.
Miller times su»
College may
host Special
Olympics
By Darla Weinberger
Of The Print
Plans to gain more college
involvement in the publicity
and recruitment for the
Clackamas County Special
Olympics was the topic of
discussion at the Feb. 25 han
dicapped resource center
meeting held at the College.
Debbie Bennett, han
dicapped resource specialist,
and Mike Sanford, coordinator
of the Oregon State Special
Olympics, discussed possible
competitor recruitment ideas
which would include flyers,
posters and greater media
coverage. The College public
information staff would help to
develop the campaign.
In past years, the Special
Olympics have been held in
Molalla. But due to transporta
tion problems, Lake Oswego
residents organized their own
Special Olympics for those
communities unable x to attend
the Molalla meet.
Bennett and Sanford
resolved that the county should
be split into two districts; north *
(Oregon City, West Linn,
Gladstone, Lake Oswego and
Milwaukie) and south (all
towns south of the College).
Bennett said the College
will put most of its efforts into
recruiting handicapped people
who would like to compete in
the Lake Special Olympics to
be held May 1 at the Lake
Oswego High School. She is
currently serving as the co-area
coordinator for the summer
track and field events.
Bennett noted the reason
the Special Olympics were not
being held at the College was
because of conflicts with the
College’s athletic schedule.
However, she said she hoped
the event could be held at the
College next year.
Wednesday, March 10, 1982
c 1981 Beer Brewed by Miller Brewing Co.. Milwaukee. Wis„
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