Problems still abound on campus regarding handicapped accessibility

Under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, VCU or any school, job, facility or public transportation cannot discriminate against a person based on disability and must make accommodations for them.

There are many forms of impairments other than just physical handicaps, such as learning and mental handicaps. At VCU, the Facilities Management as well as Disability Support Services, among others, are here to make sure students can access places safely and easily.

“The biggest thing is providing equal access. A lot of students don’t want to be identified as having a disability,” said Joyce Knight, coordinator for the Disability Support Services Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services.

At times students may need special accommodations, yet only Gladding Residence Center has handicapped-accessible housing. It is not a required dormitory for disabled students, however, and they are allowed to live anywhere.

Knight said only 1 to 2 percent of students in GRC dorms have disabilities. Students with disabilities don’t have a say on whom they can or can’t room with. Space is limited, and they must room with other students with impairments.

Residence hall security guards also provide assistance to students with disabilities. Whether they drop a book or the door isn’t working, the guards are there to help.

Junior Emily Engle, a GRC security guard, said, “This is an issue. In the Commons, the door from Main and Cherry was broken for a really long time. All the doors are handicapped-accessible, but it is almost like you have to find that one door that really is accessible.”

Sophomore Kathleen Almeda, 23, had fallen several times within a two-week period before having to spend almost five days in the MCV Hospital. She was told her knee was infected, and she, on doctor’s orders, was restricted from attending class and can barely maneuver around her apartment. All of this, she said, was in some way or another caused by inaccessible streets, ramps and doors.

Almeda, a psychology major, said she has continued to report broken doors and cracked streets, which make it hard to navigate through campus, especially with a walker.

“You get to a point where you just stop asking because it’s like they don’t do anything,” Almeda said. “Or it will work for like three days, and then it won’t work again.”

A main issue for handicapped students is mobility, which includes crossing the streets and making sure the handicapped-accessible doors open and are the right sizes. VCU has a variety of students with impairments, not just those with walking impairments, where crossing the street can be dangerous. The pedestrian crossing “Walk” signal at West Main and South Linden streets lasts for only 17 seconds.

Terika McQuinn, a junior, said, “It is difficult to cross the street. At times I have to leave class 10 minutes early just to get across. The ramps are hard to use, especially for (an) individual who doesn’t have power wheelchairs. It is hard to get to entrance and exit doorways.”

Doors that automatically open are often useful to everyone, but to some students they are vital to helping them get through the day.

“People tend to think if it doesn’t affect them, then why should they worry about it?” McQuinn said.