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Nearly 18 years after congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act that assured equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, the United States still struggles with creating handicap accessible areas. The University of Louisville is no different.
Students with disabilities are faced with the daunting task of traversing a campus that is far from handicap-friendly. The Student Activities Center ramp alone would tire any able bodied person, let alone an individual with a disability.
Upon research, the editorial board investigated the accessibility of the SAC. Signs posted on all of the doors alerted visitors that the west wing’s elevators were not functioning, thus removing the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to easily access the second and third floors.
An able-bodied member of the editorial board attempted to ascend the SAC ramp and enter the building in a wheelchair, but found notable difficulty. The ramp itself was a difficult task, as the member was exhausted by the time he reached the top. After pressing the button to have the door open automatically three times with no result, he then attempted to open the door manually, only for the door to close when he was halfway through, trapping him.
Another editorial board member watched as an individual in a wheelchair was forced to open the door for herself on the lower level of the SAC, as the door that leads to Papa John’s, Wendy’s and Subway is not handicap accessible.
Students with disabilities have complained about the height and steepness of ramps that lead from sidewalks, saying that they are too high and therefore dangerous. One student even mentioned that a friend of hers fell from her chair, injuring herself as she attempted to descend one of said ramps.
What kind of message do stories like these send to individuals with disabilities? One of apathy and unwelcome.
Many students with disabilities feel that the responsibility lies with themselves to inform officials of problems or difficulties that they are having. It is just as much the responsibility of able-bodied students and staff, especially Harvey Johnson, the ADA compliance office for U of L who is in charge of the infrastructure of the university and making sure that the campus is up to code for the ADA, to take note when problems arise.
The problems found around campus impede the every day lives of people with disabilities, and are therefore unacceptable. Individuals with disabilities already must labor to function in a society built for able-bodied people. They shouldn’t have to do so on a college campus that touts diversity as one of the things happening here.
