A month for Disability Awareness
Ed Derr and Disability Services sponsors a day in a wheelchair
Matt Frierdich
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News
Since 1988, October has been Disability Awareness Month. Disability Awareness Month is used to recognize and celebrate the small and large accomplishments of people with disabilities and disability rights.
One of the most well-known accomplishments of the disability rights movement was the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was enacted in order to combat civil injustice and discrimination faced by people with disabilities.
The legislation mandates accommodations that would ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities in daily life.
According to Ed Derr, Director of Counseling, Testing and Disability Services, Drury is mostly compliant with disability legislation.
"If we are considering campus accessibility for persons with physical disabilities, we state that our campus is 95% accessible," said Derr "which is pretty good… but we have some old, inaccessible buildings that make 100% not possible now."
Buildings like Burnham Hall add to Drury's "old and picturesque campus," but they are problematic when it comes to issues of accessibility, said Derr.
Also, most of Drury's residential options have limited access for people with physical disabilities. Derr said he was pleased that Drury does have "some nice on-campus living options, but we need more."
Derek Smith, senior, said that Drury is not too difficult for someone in a wheelchair to maneuver. However, Smith pointed out that "some buildings are hard to get into and some sidewalks could be in better condition so that I do not hit my front wheels and almost fall."
Smith also expressed frustration with Burnham Hall and the Findlay Student Center. "I am a history major, and I cannot get to my professors' offices [in Burnham]. And without an elevator [in the FSC] for students to use, I have to go out and around the building to get downstairs. This is really annoying in the snow or rain."
Derr also quickly pointed out that the discussion of disabilities should not be limited to only physical ones.
Derr admitted that "there are some wonderful and assistive technologies out there to assist students with learning disabilities that Drury does not have yet."
However, Derr explained that Drury does offer tutoring and audio-books to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to learn.
Derr argued that Drury's best resource for students with disabilities is the "faculty sensitive to the needs of our students
One of the most well-known accomplishments of the disability rights movement was the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was enacted in order to combat civil injustice and discrimination faced by people with disabilities.
The legislation mandates accommodations that would ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities in daily life.
According to Ed Derr, Director of Counseling, Testing and Disability Services, Drury is mostly compliant with disability legislation.
"If we are considering campus accessibility for persons with physical disabilities, we state that our campus is 95% accessible," said Derr "which is pretty good… but we have some old, inaccessible buildings that make 100% not possible now."
Buildings like Burnham Hall add to Drury's "old and picturesque campus," but they are problematic when it comes to issues of accessibility, said Derr.
Also, most of Drury's residential options have limited access for people with physical disabilities. Derr said he was pleased that Drury does have "some nice on-campus living options, but we need more."
Derek Smith, senior, said that Drury is not too difficult for someone in a wheelchair to maneuver. However, Smith pointed out that "some buildings are hard to get into and some sidewalks could be in better condition so that I do not hit my front wheels and almost fall."
Smith also expressed frustration with Burnham Hall and the Findlay Student Center. "I am a history major, and I cannot get to my professors' offices [in Burnham]. And without an elevator [in the FSC] for students to use, I have to go out and around the building to get downstairs. This is really annoying in the snow or rain."
Derr also quickly pointed out that the discussion of disabilities should not be limited to only physical ones.
Derr admitted that "there are some wonderful and assistive technologies out there to assist students with learning disabilities that Drury does not have yet."
However, Derr explained that Drury does offer tutoring and audio-books to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to learn.
Derr argued that Drury's best resource for students with disabilities is the "faculty sensitive to the needs of our students
Article last update: 10/27/09 at 6:00 PM CST
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