rchitectural barriers discussed
iandicappers meet with administrators
A
By Dale Newton
Staff Writer
[Eliminating all the architectural barriers
it exist for handicapped students at Clack-
las Community College would cost thou-
ds of dollars, but eliminating some equal
chai enging barriers-in the area of com-
:pnication—didn't cost a dime.
Last!week CCC Dean of Students, Len
bnroe, held a meeting of the problems of
I ndicapped students on campus. "We want
[get input from you about some of our
ilities," he began, "and some of the
. ngs we could do to aid or assist you."
Of tiie thirty people attending the meet-
g, 3 third were using wheelchairs, canes
[crutches. The rest were faculty members,
udents and staff with an interest in the
[ue. Responses to the costly dilemma of
iminating architectural barriers were nu-
erous specific and reflected much thought.
"If I were a handicapped person, the
‘[st thing I'd want to do is establish my
pepei)dence," said Associated Student Gov-
[nment President Michael Ayers. He pointed
it that the design of the bookstore, cafe-
ria turnstiles and bathrooms made inde-
Bdence physically impossible for a per-
m in a wheelchair.
In representing themselves, the handi
pped students offered ideas ranging from
e far reaching and expensive to the sim-
eand inexpensive.
"There needs to be at least one door in
ery building equipped with either an elec-
Ionic eye or a pneumatic pad--and no door
King," said Don Bixter. The heavy doors
Jd door casings at majn building entrances
e difficult barriers for those in wheel
lairs he said.
"I had to quit because of heavy doors
nd carrying my books all day. There should
alockers," said one elderly woman.
[ Some participants in the discussion listed
jinor details that posed major physical
azards for them. The floor wax once used
n a ¡ramp in Barlow Hall made it too
ippery to be used safely, many trailers
iave a difficult drop from the door to the
amp and the walkway to one Orchard Cen-
er science building is graded too steeply
for wheelchairs.
■Others offered suggestions with smaller
Bcetags. Retired Senior Volunteer Pro
fam (RSVP) Coordinator, Judy Smith, asked
pout posting signs to help newcomers in
ocating elevators. Many agreed that the
■ndicapped aren't provided with enough
■formation about facilities or services avail-
ible to them.
■ At the close of the meeting Monroe in
dicated he would bring these items to the
attend; 1 of the Board of Education. He
was-scheduled to give a report on the needs
and rights of disabled students at the board's
monthly meeting on Jan. 12.
I He stated that board members were "very
concerned" about this issue, stemming from
last fall's controversy over the status of
art major Bonnie Nelson, confined to a
wheelchair and unable to attend classes on
the second floor of the Smucker's Building.
He anticipated that the nine board repre
sentatives are now ready to commit some
money to improving the lot of handicapped
students.
Joining Monroe in the presentation were
Alf Lair, Director of Planning and Oper
ations and Don Fisher, Facilities Planning
and Development Officer. These men recent
ly completed a study on the fitness of
school facilities in serving the handicapped.
They found that although the buildings
meet all state standards that existed at
the time of construction, it would cost
$250,000 or more to meet standards set
for new buildings.
Monroe explained that the school attor
ney has advised him that "unless we start
to remodel extensively or make changes,
our buildings are up to code. We have no
programs to make the old buildings meet
the new standards, and we're under no
deadline."
The board and staff say they are moti
vated by humanitarian as well as legal and
monetary concerns. Whatever money is avail
able to spend on improving the situation
will be spent. No amount exists in the
1976-77 budget for that purpose, however,
and it may be that funds will lie extremely
limited.
Lair said that state aid for architectural
improvements on behalf of the handicapped
is a high priority item during the current
session of the legislature.
Photo by Brian Snook
Len Monroe discusses architectural barriers and how they affect handicapped students
at a meeting devoted to that topic held last week at Clackamas Community College.
C lackamas communîty
COLLEGE ARCHIVES