friday, September 21, 1979
dally nebraskan
page 9
Disabled students voice mixed feelings about services
By Mary Louise Knapp
Handicapped UNL students have mixed feelings about
the way they are, treated by classmates, teachers and
administrators and about the services provided for them
by the university, according to some disabled students.
Bradley Munn, director of the Affirmative Action
Office, said at least 250 UNL students have some kind of
physical disability and UNL is required by law to provide
disabled students with access to all programs.
According to Bill Rush, a junior "The ramps are only
average, there should be electric doors. on all buildings,
and curb cuts should be less steep, but one must realize
that all these things cost money,"
"The university has done some neat things for me such
as given me a voice synthesizer and'electric door opener,"
Rush said.
Rush, who Is confined to a wheelchair, can communi
cate only by using electric devices such as a special phone,
typewriter and message board.
"People have been considerate and have helped me, but
they really don't know how to react to me," he said.
"They are bewildered by me, but mostly they've been
really great, fantastic."
Susie Dahl, a second -year graduate student, said "UNL
is required to make every program available to us, but this
does not necessarily mean every building."
"THE SERVICES I personally have received are mainly
in the housing area," she said. "They set up a special
shower for me and installed an air conditioner in my
room. The housing staff has done everything possible to
help."
Dahl praised the Affirmative Action Office for its assis
tance. "I think his (Munn's) office is overworked, though,"
she said. "I think the university should provide a separate
coordinator for disabled students. In some cases, I feel the
administrators' attitudes are not helpful. They are not
that open to discussion, and they are not likely to get
more funds for disabled students if they don't sit down
with the regents and talk about it," Dahl said.
She cited an instance in which she felt certain UNL
administrators had not been helpful.
"Three out of four of my classes are on East Campus,
which means I have to ride the bus frequently," she ex
plained. "The shuttle buses have no wheelchair lifts, and
UNL frowns on the use of Handi-Buses," she said.
"Since the Lincoln Transportation System is financially
subsidized by UNL to provide help for the disabled, I felt
they were obligated to install lifts in the buses. Brad
(Munn) had to talk with LTS about this with no backup
from the rest of the administration. 1 v f
"MOST PEOPLE'S attitude toward me is just great,"
Dahl continued. "A few treat you like you're still In first
grade, but the basic, everyday attitude of the faculty and
students Is good." A ...
Pat Bean a sophomore, offered suggestions on how
UNL facilities could be improved.
"The wheelchair section in the stadium has no curb cut
on it," he said ,4Many people, especially those iri electric
wheelchairs, cannot get up on the curb.
Also there should be files on handicapped students at
the Health Center in case of emergency, Bean said. "Most
ramps are in the back of the buildings, and often the
doors to our entrances are kept locked," he added.
Bean said UNL tries to provide as many services as it
can, but with a lack of funds this is difficult.
"They have a lot to do," he said. "Sometimes you just
have to keep after them ."
Bean said that he has been trying to organize an intra
mural sports program for the disabled students, preferably
one that would not cost much money and in which all
could participate.
BEAN SAID that people often park their cars in spaces
reserved for mi handicapped, or in front of ramps.
"I realize 4hey aren't being malicious, they just see a
place to park," he said. "I think the biggest handicap dis
abled people have is able-boldied people's unawareness of
their needs.
Dahl said, "There is an important distinction between a
disability and a handicap. A disability is an inability to
perform some life function; a handicap is something put
on you by attitudes and environment. There are many
students here who are perfectly normal physically, but are
handicapped worse than we are by their attitudes and
those of others."
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